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BERKELEY 

GENERAL 
LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY    OF 
CALIFORNIA 


QlHlrU 


AMERICAN  TROUT- STREAM  INSECTS 


EXPERT   DRY    FLY-CASTING    ON   THE    STREAM 
{.Pencil  Portrait  of  Hi'.  Georgt    I.n  Bra/nehe) 


Copyright,  1916,  by 
Frederick  A.  Stokes  Company 


Copyright,  1916,   by 
Forest  and  Stream  Puhlishing  Co. 


Copyright,  1914,  1915,  by 
Field  and  Stream  Publishing  Co. 


All  rights  reserved 


5 


TO     MY     HON'ORED 
AND    ESTEEMED    FRIEND    OF    MANY    YEARS 

TARLETOX   H.   BEAX 

Fish  Culturist  of  the  State  of  New   York 
President   of  the  American   Fisheries  Society 
Founder  and  First  Director  of  the  New   York  Aquarium 
Chief  of  the  Department  of  Fish  and  Game  at  Many  Universal 
Expositions 
Author  of  Innumerable  and  Important  Piscicultural  Books  and  Gov- 
ernment Documents 
Decorated  in  the  Legion  of  Honor  and  Herite  Agricole  of  France 
the  Red  Eagle   of  Germany,  and   the  Rising  Sun  of  Japan 
for  his  Services  to  Fish   Culture  and  the  Fisheries, 
etc.,  etc. 


M842763 


PREFACE 


The  object  of  this  book  is  to  furnish  anglers, 
amateurs,  students  of  entomology,  and  others  in- 
terested in  aquatic  insects,  with  a  colored  selection 
of  the  most  abundant  and  well-known  trout  insects 
that  appear,  month  by  month,  on  the  rivers  and 
lakes  of  the  temperate  regions  of  North  America. 

Inquiries  from  various  State  entomologists  failed 
to  locate  a  single  volume  or  treatise  on  trout-stream 
insects.  Likewise,  diligent  search  in  libraries  and 
large  bookstores  proved  futile.  This  shows  the 
present  volume  to  be  the  first  and  only  work  on  this 
most  necessary  adjunct  to  the  angler's  craft.  It  is 
curious  that  while  our  Government  documents  re- 
lating to  pisciculture  are  equal  to,  if  not  in  advance 
of,  those  of  European  countries,  there,  particularly 
in  England  and  France,  research  in  the  field  of 
entomology  has  kept  pace  with  other  branches  of 
science. 

After  looking  back  over  a  period  of  seven  trout 


PREFACE 

seasons,  in  which  the  insect  studies  of  this  book  have 
been  in  preparation,  the  author  well  understands 
why  the  subject  has  not  been  treated  heretofore  in 
America.  No  artist  could  do  it  properly  unless  he 
were  an  angler  of  wide  experience,  with  an  infinite 
love  of  his  subject,  and  willing  to  devote  ample  time 
to  the  work.  He  must  be  present  on  the  streams 
nearly  all  the  summer;  and  he  must  be  prepared 
to  forego  much  pleasure  in  the  pursuit  of  his  fa- 
vorite sport — it  so  often  happens  trout  are  rising 
to  the  very  flies  which  must  needs  be  captured.  No 
angler  could  do  it  unless  he  were  an  artist ;  and  no 
artist  unless  he  were  an  angler;  it  must  be  a  com- 
bination of  both. 

The  difficulty  in  catching,  uninjured,  these  most 
fragile  insect  specimens,  in  keeping  them  alive  in 
a  wire  cage  long  enough  to  paint  them  in  colors 
true  to  the  living  fly  (when  dead,  their  beautiful 
color  instantly  fades),  is  an  undertaking  my 
brother  anglers  would  scarcely  believe.  Most  of 
the  insects  must,  of  necessity,  be  captured  at  eve- 
ning— very  often  miles  away  from  home.  It  is  im- 
perative that  the  captives  be  kept  over  night  in 
the  open  air ;  and  in  the  morning  many  of  the  most 
delicate  are  either  dead  or  so  greatly  injured  as  to 
be  useless.  Then  the  hunt  for  them  must  be  gone 
all  over  again.  Nearly  every  specimen  has  to  be 
painted  by  the  aid  of  a  magnif ying-glass ;  and  the 
most  fragile  are  the  most  restless.     To  stick  a  pin 


PREFACE 

in  them  is  sure  death,  the  mangling  of  the  body,  and 
the  fading  of  the  color. 

Aquatic  insects — at  least,  those  most  alluring  to 
trout — have  a  tendency  to  keep  themselves  hovering 
over  deep  or  rushing  water,  while  the  maddened 
would-be  capturer  stands  waiting  to  get  them 
within  reach  of  his  net,  or  else,  teasingly  tempted, 
he  flounders  about  in  the  water,  wet  to  the  skin, 
only  to  miss  the  object  of  his  desire. 

Worse,  far  worse,  are  these  elusive  insects  to  get 
within  the  net  than  the  wily  trout. 

Louis  Rhead. 

Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 


IX 


CONTENTS 

PART  I 
AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

HAPTER  PAGE 

Preface vii 

Introductory  Note xv 

I     Why  It  Is  Best  to  Copy  Nature     ....  1 

II     System  and  Classification 5 

III  The  Artificial  Fly  of  Commerce  .      .      .      .  13 

IV  Trout  Flies  in  April — When   Insects  First 

Appear 18 

V     Trout  Insects  for  May 35 

VI     The  Best  Trout  Insects  for  June      ...  52 

VII     Typical  Insects  of  July 66 

VIII     Some  Trout  Insects  for  August      ....  77 

IX     Six  Best  Flies  for  Each  Month   ....  87 

X     Concerning  My  Artificial  Imitations       .       .  97 

XI     New  Names  for  Flies 101 

XII     The  Making  of  an  Artificial  Fly        .       .       .  104 

XIII     A  Test  of  the  New  Flies 124 


J 


CONTENTS 

PART  II 
NEW  ARTIFICIAL  NATURE  LURES 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

Introductory  Note:  concerning  the  rapidly 
diminishing  natural  food   of   fresh-water 

game  fishes 129 

XIV     New  Lures  That  Are  True  to  Life      .      .      .133 
XV     Shiny  Devils:  gold-  and  silver-bodied  fancy 

MINNOWS   FOR   SALMON,   BIG  TROUT,  AND   BASS    .     139 

XVI  Nature  Lures  for  Summer  Fishing:  imita- 
tions of  minnows,  grasshoppers,  dragon- 
flies  and  caterpillars 144 

XVII     Artificial   Frogs    That   Wiggle    Their    Legs 

and   Float 151 

XVIII     The  Three  Best  Nature  Lures  for  Bass  .      .158 

XIX  Silver  Shiner  and  Golden  Chub:  new  min- 
nows FOR  SURFACE  OR  DEEP-WATER  TROLLING 
AFTER  BIG  LAKE  TROUT,  TOGUE,  MASCALONGE, 
OR    SALMON 164 

XX     The  Right  Implements  and  Methods:  their 

IMPORTANCE  FOR  SURE  SUCCESS 173 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

Expert  Dry  Fly-Casting  on  the  Stream 
(Pencil  Portrait  of  Mr.  George  La 
Branche).     In  colors Frontispiece 

FACING 
PAGE 

.       .         6 


Specimens  of  Seven  Different  Orders  of  Insects    . 

A  Selection  of  the  Best  Trout  Insects  for  the  Month  of 
April.     Painted  from  Life  by  the  Author.     In  colors    . 

A  Selection  of  the  Best  Trout  Insects  for  the  Month  of 
May.     Painted  from  Life  by  the  Author.     In  colors     . 

A  Selection  of  the  Best  Trout  Insects  for  the  Month  of 
June.     Painted  from  Life  by  the  Author.     In  colors    . 

A  Selection  of  the  Best  Trout  Insects  for  the  Month  of 
July.     Painted  from  Life  by  the  Author.     In  colors 

A  Selection  of  the  Best  Trout  Insects  for  the  Month  of 
August  and  Corresponding  Artificial  Flies  Tied  by  the 
Author 80 

Selected  Nature  Flies  Tied  in  Accordance  with  the  Au- 
thor's Patterns  and  Sold  by  His  Agents      ....      90 

Tools  for,  and  Methods  of  Making  a  Fly      .       .       .       .106 

Feather  Minnows  for  Bass,  Pike  and  Trout      .       .       .       .134 


20 


36 


54. 


68 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


PACING 
PAGE 


Gold-  and  Silver-Bodied  Fancy  Minnows  for  Salmon,  Big 
Trout  and  Bass 140 

Nature  Lures  for  Summer  Fishing:  Imitations  of  Min- 
nows, Grasshoppers,  Dragon  Fly  and  Caterpillars      .    144 

Artificial  Frogs — Lamper  Eel  and  Helgramite      .       .       .152 

Crawfish:  Under  View,  Back  View  and  Side  View.  Hel- 
gramite: Side  View 158 

Silver  Shiner  (actual  size)  for  either  Surface  or  Deep 
Water  Trolling  after  Lake  Trout,  Mascalonge,  Pike 
and  Salmon 166 


^^s_<: 


INTRODUCTORY  NOTE 


Over  twenty  years  ago  Mary  Orvis  Marbury,  in 
her  well-known  and  useful  book,  "Favorite  Flies," 
wrote:  "At  present  fishermen  are  chiefly  indebted 
to  the  fly-makers  of  Great  Britain  for  copies  of  the 
insects  alluring  to  game  fish  .  .  .  and  until  we  have 
studied  more  thoroughly  our  own  stream  life  we  do 
well  to  abide  by  many  of  their  conclusions ;  but  there 
can  be  no  question  that  in  the  years  to  come  the  dif- 
ferences between  the  insects  of  the  two  countries 
will  be  better  understood  and  defined,  and  that  a 
collection  of  the  water  insects  interesting  to  fisher- 
men of  America,  with  directions  for  accurate  imi- 
tations, arranged  after  the  manner  of  Ronalds' 
'Fly-fisher's  Entomology,'  would  be  of  great 
value." 

To-day  conditions  remain  the  same.  No  one,  as 
yet,  has  seen  fit  to  undertake  such  a  collection  of 
American  insects;  although  in  the  interval  several 
important  books  on  English  insects  have  been  is- 
sued— notably,      Halford's     "Entomology"      and 


INTRODUCTORY  NOTE 


Leonard  West's  "The  Natural  Trout  Fly  and  Its 
Imitations." 

Now  that  so  many  American  fly-fishermen  de- 
sire a  knowledge  of  this  subject,  it  would  seem  that 
the  time  has  arrived  for  a  book  on  American  insects ; 
from  the  fact  that  anglers  in  all  parts  of  the  coun- 
try have  requested  me  to  undertake  this  much- 
needed  work. 

In  this  volume  I  purpose  to  describe  and  picture 
in  colors  a  selected  number  of  the  most  abundant 
and  most  common  insects  that  trout  feed  upon  in  a 
typical  American  trout  stream,  and  to  show,  side 
by  side  with  these,  correct  artificial  imitation  flies 
tied  by  my  own  hands,  in  order  that  anglers  may 
better  understand  how  to  choose  their  own  flies  and 
thus  be  enabled  to  lure  fish  with  greater  success  and 
pleasure  than  heretofore. 

In  a  handbook  of  this  kind  it  would  not  be  possi- 
ble to  include  all  of  the  large  number  of  species  and 
the  numerous  varieties  that  inhabit  the  different 
trout  waters  of  the  United  States.  I  shall  describe 
those  specimens  found  on  streams  in  the  mountain- 
ous regions  of  New  York  and  Pennsylvania,  which 
are  available  to  the  more  northern  and  perhaps 
southern  zones. 

At  the  present  time  American  and  English  artifi- 
cial flies  are,  almost  exclusively,  what  may  be  called 
"fancy  flies";  that  is,  tied  flies  made  of  colored 
feathers  and  wool,  without  much  attempt  at  imi- 


INTRODUCTORY  NOTE 

tating  the  natural  insects.  The  question  may  pos- 
sibly be  asked,  "If  fancy  flies  entice  trout,  is  not  the 
object  for  which  they  are  intended  attained?"  My 
reply  is,  good  imitations  of  the  insects  that  trout 
take  as  food  are  sure  to  prove  more  effective  and 
make  far  more  interesting  sport. 

The  great  majority  of  expert  anglers  at  the  pres- 
ent time  rely  on  fly-makers  of  the  British  Isles  for 
their  trout  and  salmon  flies;  moreover,  we  are 
naively  assured,  "Some  are  tied  especially  for 
American  waters."  In  the  various  plates  of  col- 
ored flies,  the  angler  will  see  a  much  greater  differ- 
ence between  the  insects  of  the  two  countries  than 
is  commonly  supposed  to  exist;  though  in  a  few  in- 
stances there  are  species  that  are  nearly  alike — as 
for  instance  the  green  and  brown  drake.  It  is 
most  essential  that  a  true  copy  of  our  native  in- 
sects should  be  used  as  a  guide  for  American 
anglers. 

European  entomologists  have  divided  insects  into 
various  orders ;  each  season  finds  them  making  new 
classifications  so  conflicting  as  to  bewilder  the  lay 
mind.  For  the  simple  use  of  plain  anglers,  who 
have  neither  the  wish  nor  the  time  to  enter  into  the 
intricacies  of  entomology,  the  use  of  a  common  name 
for  each  insect  will,  I  think,  be  more  acceptable. 
Among  the  insects  pictured  will  be  found  speci- 
mens of  browns,  drakes,  duns,  spinners,  beetles, 
house-flies  and  ants.     To  enter  into  details  concern- 


INTRODUCTORY  NOTE 

ing  the  general  classification  of  insects  would  prove 
wearisome  and  perplexing  and  would  destroy  the 
purpose  intended.  This  book  endeavors,  merely, 
to  simplify  the  branch  relating  only  to  insects  of  in- 
terest to  anglers. 

The  insects  pictured  are  carefully  selected  from 
the  many  captured  in  the  past  three  years,  while 
wading  and  fishing  in  the  river  Beaverkill,  situated 
in  the  Catskill  region  of  New  York.  They  have 
been  most  carefully  copied,  in  every  instance,  from 
the  living  insects,  which,  like  fish,  rapidly  change 
their  lovely  color  soon  after  death.  They  rep- 
resent what  I  consider  are  the  most  valuable  in- 
sects to  imitate  that  will  most  induce  trout  to  take 
them. 

I  have  tied  the  various  artificials  as  I  think  they 
will  best  imitate  the  natural  insects,  without  any 
reference  whatever  to  the  artificial  flies  made  and 
sold  by  American  and  English  fly-makers,  although 
I  have  made  a  careful  study  of  all  the  works  on 
trout  flies.  I  have  no  hesitation  in  pinning  my 
faith  on  the  angler  who  uses  these  new  patterns,  if 
used  as  directed  in  the  accompanying  charts,  as 
against  the  expert  who  angles  with  the  popular  na- 
tive "fancy"  flies  or  even  the  imported  English  dry 
flies. 

Of  this  I  am  sure :  for  every  insect  a  trout  takes 
alive  at  the  surface,  a  thousand  are  consumed 
drowned  under  water  or  near  the  surface;  and  to 


INTRODUCTORY  NOTE 

one  natural  insect  able  to  float  on  the  surface,  there 
are  hundreds  which  cannot  float. 

Because  of  this  fact,  I  believe  it  to  be  the  height 
of  folly  to  fish  exclusively  with  dry  flies  on  the  sur- 
face. Wet  fishing  with  two  or  three  accurately 
copied  insects  is  in  every  way  as  effective  on  the 
average  American  stream.  I  do  think  the  dry-fly 
method  is  excellent  on  large  pools,  and  more  or  less 
placid  water ;  but  the  trouble  is  that  trout  prefer  to 
lie  under  a  rock  where  turbulent  water  flows  above, 
from  which  in  a  runway  they  get  insects  alive  or 
drowned  as  they  go  swiftly  by. 

Since  this  appeared  in  magazine  form  I  have 
read  Mr.  La  Branche's  "Dry  Fly  in  Rapid  Wa- 
ters," and  I  quite  agree  that  anglers  can  wade  into 
the  lower  end  of  a  rapid,  and  with  a  very  short  cast 
float  down  a  cocked  dry  fly  a  few  yards  toward  them 
with  deadly  effect.  I  have  seen  Mr.  La  Branche 
do  it,  and  I  have  done  it  frequently  myself. 

In  general  fishing  the  method  is  merely  a  matter 
of  preference,  and  is  really  of  very  little  importance 
compared  to  offering  the  right  artificial  that  will 
make  trout  fancy  is  its  regular  food. 


PART  I 
AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 


AMERICAN 
TROUT- STREAM  INSECTS 


WHY  IT  IS  BEST  TO  COPY  NATURE 

Every  thoughtful  angler  will  agree  that  to  fish 
with  an  exact  artificial  imitation  of  the  natural  in- 
sect is  certainly  a  desirable  thing.  To  do  this  it  will 
be  necessary  that  some  radical  changes  be  made 
from  the  fly  of  commerce  now  in  use. 

In  the  first  place,  the  most  important  class,  called 
drakes — and  a  great  many  specimens  of  the  other 
classes — have  their  under  bodies  quite  pale  and  col- 
orless compared  to  the  upper  part  of  their  bodies. 
From  the  trout's  point  of  view — that  is,  looking  up- 
ward— the  artificial  imitation  with  pale  or  white 
under  body  must  be  a  much  more  acceptable  lure 
than  the  commercial  fly  as  now  tied  with  upper  and 
under  body  exactly  the  same. 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

Another  desirable  change,  still  more  important, 
is  to  tie  all  drakes'  wings  close  together  instead  of 
outspread — a  most  unnatural  attitude  which  the  in- 
sect never  assumes,  and  only  introduced  in  later 
years  by  dry  fly  experts  in  order  to  assist  the  fly  in 
floating.  With  the  aid  of  oil  the  fly  will  float  just 
as  well  with  closed  wings  as  with  wings  outspread. 

One  of  the  most  remarkable  and  peculiar  features 
in  all  drakes  is  the  way  they  cock  their  tails  upward 
from  the  body.  In  order  to  imitate  this  feature 
successfully  it  is  necessary  to  have  what  is  called  a 
"detached"  body:  viz.,  with  the  tail  made  separate 
from  the  hook  and  slightly  curved  upward.  There 
are  a  few  English  flies  tied  in  this  way;  but  I  have 
not  seen  any  detached  bodies  on  what  may  be  called 
strictly  American  flies.  The  detached-body  fly  I 
have  found  far  ahead  of  the  fly  with  the  body  tied 
round  the  hook :  that  is,  if  intended  to  represent  the 
drake  class.  For  that  reason  I  have  tied  all  my 
drakes  with  detached  bodies. 

Still  another  change  for  the  better  is  to  tie  the 
numerous  class  of  duns  with  wings  sloping  down 
over  the  body  like  the  natural  insect.  There  are 
many  hundreds  of  these  aquatic  insects  which,  after 
alighting  on  the  water's  surface,  rest  with  the  wings 
lapping  over  the  covering  of  the  body ;  which  is  ex- 
actly opposite  to  the  raised  wings  of  commercial 
flies. 

It  will  therefore  be  seen  that  the  two  principal 


WHY  IT  IS  BEST  TO  COPY  NATURE 

classes — duns  and  drakes — have  wings  in  exactly 
opposite  positions.  The  duns  have  wings  hanging 
from  and  below  the  shoulders;  the  drakes,  wings 
raised  from  and  erect  above  the  shoulders. 

Trout  fishermen  also  would  find  their  sport  vastly 
improved  if  they  used  imitations  of  the  large  and 
important  class  of  spinners,  which  form  a  consid- 
erable part  of  the  trout's  food.  So  far  as  I  know, 
no  attempt  has  been  made  to  copy  spinners.  The 
extra  long  hackle  used  for  the  legs,  the  long,  thin 
body,  and  the  spread  wings  must  surely  act  as  an 
effective  teaser  when  lightly  dropped  and  floated 
to  large  trout.  They  might  be  excellent,  also,  for 
river  bass. 

I  had  no  idea  that  the  spinners  were  so  numerous 
in  numbers  and  variety.  That  they  have  not  been 
imitated  before  this  and  used  as  a  regular  commer- 
cial fly  seems  strange  to  me.  I  see  trout  gobble 
them  whenever  they  touch  the  surface;  yes,  and 
even  jump  at  the  surface  of  the  water  after  them 
while  on  the  wing. 

If  you  fish  with  an  artificial  fly  like  the  insect 
you  see  the  trout  takes  it  gives  additional  vim  to 
the  sport.  Your  interest  is  doubled,  not  only  be- 
cause it  is  certain  that  trout  will  respond  to  correct 
imitations,  but  by  the  charm  of  the  situation 
whereby  you  are  as  intimately  connected  with  the 
food  taken  as  with  the  fish. 

By  using  a  fancy  fly  your  interest  in  what  food 

3 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

the  fish  prefers  is  void;  you  simply  fish  with  a 
bunch  of  feathers.  Furthermore,  it  may  be  neces- 
sary to  keep  changing  fancy  flies  till  you  get  the 
desired  rise,  which  may  not  come  to  any  of  them. 

How  often,  when  a  nice  fish  is  netted,  is  the  ques- 
tion asked,  "What  fly  did  you  use?" 

I  claim,  and  have  proved  many  times,  that  a 
fairly  good  imitation  of  rising  insects  will  induce 
trout  to  rise  when  a  fancy  fly  is  ineffective.  If  an 
exact  copy  of  the  natural  insect  is  offered  to  the 
fish — even  if  that  natural  insect  is  not  in  flight — 
it  is  sure  to  entice  and  lure  a  trout  more  readily  than 
a  fancy  fly. 

That  is  the  reason  this  book  of  the  commonest 
and  most  abundant  trout  insects  is  offered  for  the 
use  of  discerning  and  thoughtful  anglers. 


II 


SYSTEM  AND  CLASSIFICATION 


After  a  careful  study  of  the  various  British 
books  on  trout  insects  and  their  artificial  imitations 
issued  to  date,  I  deem  it  wise  to  brush  aside  the  sci- 
ence of  entomology,  which  is  of  no  actual  service  to 
our  purpose,  and  to  lay  before  the  angler  a  plain, 
simple  plan  whereby  he  can  obtain  just  enough  in- 
formation to  understand  easily  the  general  charac- 
teristics of  the  insects  he  is  likely  to  observe  trout 
feeding  upon  while  wading  a  trout  stream,  to  the 
end  that  he  may  have  with  him  a  fair  imitation  that 
will  be  most  successful  in  luring  trout. 

For  what  little  classification  is  necessary  I  have, 
in  a  measure,  followed  after  the  plan  of  Michael 
Theakston,  who  was  the  first  British  angler  to  make 
an  effort  in  that  direction.  He  also  made  a  se- 
lected list  of  the  best  British  flies  for  each  month, 
and  tied  his  flies  true  to  nature.  The  wings  of  his 
drakes  are  cocked;  those  of  his  browns  and  duns 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

are  flat.  You  can  at  once  recognize  in  his  artificial 
imitations  the  class  of  insects  he  imitates. 

In  Ronalds'  "Fly-fisher's  Entomology"  there  is 
no  effort  at  classification;  he  simply  made  a  selec- 
tion of  what  he  thought  to  be  the  best  flies  for  each 
month,  giving  a  full  description  of  them  and  telling 
how  to  imitate  them.  Ronalds  was  an  exception- 
ally clever  artist,  and  his  representations  of  both 
insects  and  artificials  are  so  perfect  that  I  form 
from  them  a  better  understanding  of  British 
aquatic  insects  than  from  any  others  I  have  seen 
issued  up  to  the  present  time.  He,  like  Theakston, 
tied  his  own  flies  with  the  greatest  fidelity  to  na- 
ture. 

The  plans  of  these  two  eminent  authorities  I  con- 
sider are  the  best  to  follow ;  for  every  month  of  our 
trout  season  has  a  distinctly  different  weather  con- 
dition, and,  too,  there  is  a  decided  difference  in  our 
trout  insects  each  month. 

The  accompanying  page  drawing  shows  a  system 
of  separation  according  to  shape  and  construction 
of  the  seven  most  important  classes  of  trout  insects 
and  their  creepers,  viz. :  browns,  drakes,  duns,  spin- 
ners, beetles,  house-flies,  and  ants.  Each  of  these 
classes  contains  many  distinct  species  that  differ  in 
size,  color,  and  shape.  The  monthly  colored  pages 
show  only  a  selection  of  the  best  and  most  abundant 
insects  seen  upon  the  water. 

Take,  for  instance,  the  order  of  Ephemera,  a 


STONE 


kBROWNS> 
(RfRLlDAfe) 


DRAKE  CR€€P€R 


DRAKeS. 

(EpHeneRA) 


CA5€ 


DUNS 
(TRlCHOPTeRA^) 


SPINNfcRS 
(DlPTCR  A) 


WATfe  R       /f 

BeerLfc 


^CR€.€P€R 

>aM/v 

*FOR£.VT '  FLY 
COWDUNO      FLY 

TWO-WING    FLI6S 
(DlPTfcRA) 


WINC-S  CAST 


(HYM&NOPT6RA) 


SPECIMENS  OF  SEVEN  DIFFERENT  ORDERS  OF  INSECTS 
7 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

drake  class,  of  which  there  are  over  forty  species 
in  the  British  Isles.  This  region  somewhat  cor- 
responds to  our  temperate  regions  in  climatic  con- 
dition, yet  I  am  pretty  sure  that  not  only  have  we 
many  more  species  of  that  class  but  they  are  larger, 
much  more  brilliant  and  varied  in  color.  The  same 
will  no  doubt  be  found  true  with  the  class  of 
Perlidce,  or  stone-flies,  and  other  orders. 

I  have  not  yet  had  the  opportunity  to  study  the 
insects  north  or  south  of  the  temperate  regions ;  yet 
I  am  of  the  opinion  that  both  those  sections  of  our 
American  continent  will  show  an  entirely  different 
class  of  insects.  A  gentleman  from  North  Caro- 
lina kindly  sent  me  some  trout  flies  caught  in  his  lo- 
cality which  were  entirely  new  to  me;  one,  in  par- 
ticular, a  spinner  of  gigantic  proportions  compared 
with  those  found  here. 

The  following  table  of  seven  orders  the  angler 
will  be  able  to  use  as  a  guide  to  identify  different 
species  in  their  class  whenever  he  observes  them  in 
their  natural  state,  either  as  creeper  or  as  mature 
insect : 

First:  The  browns,  or  stone-flies,  are  all  bred 
in  the  water  and  hatch  out  from  a  creeper.  They 
are  most  plentiful  in  the  spring,  but  some  are  on 
the  water  all  summer.  Their  bodies  are  smooth 
and  fleshy,  and  they  have  two  pairs  of  smooth,  ob- 
long wings,  which,  when  folded,  circle  closely  over 
and  beyond  the  body.     They  have  two  feelers  at 


SYSTEM  AND  CLASSIFICATION 

the  head,  and  most  of  them  two  wisks  at  the  tail. 
They  are  mostly  brown  in  color,  and  are  very  quick 
runners,  both  in  the  water  and  on  land. 

Second:  Drakes  are  all  bred  in  the  water  and 
are  of  various  sizes  and  colors,  abounding  in  all  their 
varieties  in  vast  numbers,  from  the  large  green 
drake  to  the  very  tiny  white  drake.  Their  move- 
ments are  sluggish  on  land;  they  will  even  allow 
themselves  to  be  taken  up  by  the  wings.  They  are 
not  so  hardy  as  the  browns.  Their  shoulders  and 
bodies  are  exposed;  but  nature  has  furnished  them 
with  a  temporary  covering,  which  they  cast  off 
when  the  weather  suits,  bursting  open  the  covering 
at  the  shoulders  and  coming  out  a  different  color. 
They  have  close,  thick  shoulders,  and  smooth,  taper- 
ing bodies  which  curve  upward  like  the  feathers  in 
the  tail  of  a  drake.  They  have  a  pair  of  smooth, 
oblong  wings,  which,  when  at  rest,  stand  upright 
close  together;  a  small  wing  stands  at  the  root  of 
each  large  one,  and  there  are  two  or  three  hairs  in 
the  tail.  Some  species  hatch  out  in  two  or  three 
weeks.  Others  continue  hatching  through  the  en- 
tire summer. 

Third:  The  duns  have  two  long  feelers,  small 
heads,  short  necks,  and  small,  jumped-up  shoulders. 
They  have  two  pairs  of  large  wings,  set  near  the 
head;  the  under  wings  of  some  fold  double,  and  all 
lie  close  together  along  the  back  and  slope  down 
over  the  sides,  growing  broader  at  the  ends.     Duns 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

all  breed  in  the  water  from  creepers  that  are  enclosed 
in  artificial  cases,  ingeniously  fashioned  around 
them  for  self-preservation.  Trout  consume  these 
creepers  while  in  their  cases  at  the  bottom,  also 
while  they  are  rising  from  the  mud  to  the  surface, 
which  they  do  twice  a  year.  When  on  land  or  at 
the  water's  surface  in  repose,  they  are  similar  in 
appearance  to  moths.  They  sport  on  the  wing 
more  in  the  dusk  and  twilight  than  in  the  daytime, 
and  in  general  they  are  tender  and  susceptible  to 
cold.  They  are  more  numerous  on  warm  evenings, 
flying  in  quick  whirls.  When  they  alight  they  run 
exceedingly  fast. 

Fourth:  The  class  of  spinners,  the  long-legged, 
slender  tribe  of  insects  very  alluring  to  trout. 
Some  are  bred  on  the  land  and  some  in  the  water. 
They  have  in  general  two  feelers  and  a  small  trunk 
at  the  nose;  six  long,  thin  legs;  and  a  pair  of  long, 
narrow,  transparent  wings — some  slanting  upward 
from  the  shoulders,  others  lying  horizontally  on 
each  other  over  the  back.  There  are  vast  varieties 
of  them,  from  the  large  gray  spinner  to  the  small 
mosquito. 

Fifth:     The  house-fly.     The  flies  of  this  class 

resemble  the  house-fly  in  having  large  heads,  thick 

shoulders,  a  thick  body  which  is  about  half  the 

length  of  the  fly,  and  a  pair  of  clear,  oblong  wings 

which  lie  flat  or  horizontal  and  point  more  or  less 

from  the  body.     They  are  principally  bred  on  land ; 

10 


SYSTEM  AND  CLASSIFICATION 

but,  being  exceedingly  numerous,  many  fall  casu- 
ally onto  the  water  on  windy  days  and  are  taken  by 
the  fish.  The  cowdung  and  the  bluebottle  are  well 
known  examples  of  this  class. 

Sixth:  The  beetles.  The  outer  parts  of  these 
insects  are  hard  and  shelly,  and  the  shoulders  are 
united  to  the  body  by  a  flexible  joint,  which  enables 
them  to  turn  and  steer;  the  two  fore  legs  are  at- 
tached to  the  shoulder,  and  the  other  four  to  the 
shelly  breast-plate.  They  have  two  pairs  of  wings ; 
the  upper  ones,  which  are  hard,  stand  close  to  the 
shoulder-plate  and  fold  over  a  pair  of  soft  ones  and 
the  upper  parts  of  the  body.  They  are  of  an  ob- 
long or  oval  shape,  more  or  less  flattened.  Many 
of  them  are  bred  in  the  water,  and  are  very  natural 
food  for  fish.     They  are  a  numerous  class. 

Seventh:  The  class  of  ants  consists  of  many 
species  that  live  in  communities,  often  of  immense 
numbers,  and  are  dispersed  over  the  fields  and 
woods  in  places  of  their  own  peculiar  choice.  A 
portion  of  each  community  are  annually  furnished 
with  wings ;  and  in  the  summer  season,  at  their  ap- 
pointed time,  these  fly  off  and  leave  the  colony,  as 
bees  do  their  hives.  Great  numbers  of  them  fly 
over  and  fall  onto  the  neighboring  streams  and  are 
readily  nipped  up  by  the  fish.  The  working  por- 
tion of  the  community  have  large  hawk-like  heads, 
and  large  oval  bodies — which  are  united  by  two  or 

three  comparatively  very  small  shoulder- joints,  and 

11 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

to  these  their  legs  are  attached;  but  those  with 
wings  appear  to  have  but  one  jumped-up  shoulder, 
as  thick  as  their  bodies,  and  united  by  a  small,  hair- 
like link.  They  have  two  jointed  feelers  which 
they  use  constantly ;  and  they  run  exceedingly  fast. 
Some  species  have  one  pair,  and  some  two  pairs,  of 
thin,  glassy  wings,  which  fall  flat  over  the  back  and 
reach  beyond  the  end  of  the  body.  Their  colors 
vary  from  black  to  green.  The  sage-green  ant  ob- 
served in  August  in  such  vast  numbers  I  do  not  find 
mentioned  in  English  books;  their  red  ant  I  have 
not  observed  on  our  streams.  The  large  black  ant 
has  a  flight  in  May  and  a  lesser  one  in  June. 

The  first  business  of  the  angler  when  he  arrives 
at  the  stream  is  with  the  aquatic  flies  of  the  day. 
If  he  cannot  see  these  out  on  the  water,  he  may 
often  discover  them  on  a  spider's  web,  or  he  may 
find  them  with  their  creepers  at  their  times  of 
hatching,  at  the  edges  of  the  stream.  An  hour  or 
two  spent  in  research  and  observation,  at  intervals 
through  a  season,  will  give  a  truer  and  more  correct 
knowledge  of  the  right  fly  to  use  than  many  years 
of  angling;  and  it  is  often  the  shortest  way  to  get 
fine  sport. 


12 


Ill 

THE  ARTIFICIAL  FLY  OF  COMMERCE 

It  is  incomprehensible  why  British  and  Amer- 
ican fly-makers  in  recent  years  have  gone  out  of 
their  way  to  tie  "fancy"  flies  when  the  natural  in- 
sects are  so  beautiful  in  form  and  color;  so  varied, 
so  graceful,  that  if  they  are  copied  true,  fancy  flies 
are  exceedingly  commonplace  when  they  are  put 
side  by  side.  It  is  obvious  that  the  originators 
never  saw,  or  considered,  God's  handiwork:  per- 
haps, in  their  egotism,  they  tried  to  improve  on  it; 
but  it  is  certain  they  miserably  failed,  as  we  all  must 
do,  in  any  like  attempt. 

We  have  become  so  accustomed  to  using  certain 
well-known  artificials  with  more  or  less  success  that 
our  confidence  in  them  has  become  inflated,  or  at 
least  satisfying. 

Mary  Orvis  Marbury  gives  some  amusingly 
naive  accounts  in  her  book,  "Favorite  Flies,"  of 
how  some  of  these  historic  masterpieces  were  born. 

13 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

Most  often  some  well-known  angler  takes  up  an 
old  favorite  fly,  ties  to  it  a  bit  of  red  or  white 
feather,  makes  a  test  under  most  favorable  condi- 
tions, and  then  swears  the  additional  ornament  was 
surely  the  cause.  What  is  the  outcome  ?  He  cries 
out  to  all  his  friends  of  the  wonderful  discovery  of 
a  new  killing  fly,  then  modestly  names  the  new  crea- 
tion after  himself  or  the  place  he  happens  to  be 
fishing.  Rube  Wood,  Seth  Green,  Cahill,  Fergu- 
son, and  others  are  examples  of  them.  By  this  I 
do  not  take  from  their  usefulness  or  value  as  flies, 
but  merely  comment  upon  their  rise  into  fame,  as 
flies. 

Tradition  has  much  to  do  with  such  glaring 
mistakes.  Each  generation  of  anglers  go  on  using 
tackle-shop  flies  without  thinking — or,  rather,  what 
little  time  can  be  spared  must  be  devoted  to  the  ac- 
tual sport  of  angling.  They  accept  the  wise  and 
serious  air  of  the  tackle-dealer's  clerk;  swallow  his 
assurance  that  such  and  such  a  fly  is  a  deadly  killer, 
when  ninety-nine  per  cent,  never  caught  or  even 
saw  a  trout  except  the  stuffed  images  or  the 
wretched  pictures  supposed  to  depict  them  adorn- 
ing the  walls  of  every  up-to-date  store. 

Another  good  reason  why  so  many  of  the  trade 
flies  should  be  discarded  is  that  for  cheapness  and 
profit  anything  will  suffice  if  the  hook  is  covered 
and  a  gay  pair  of  wings  attached  in  the  same  old 
way.     To  supply  the  varied  wants  of  his  patrons 

14 


THE  ARTIFICIAL  FLY  OF  COMMERCE 

the  tackle-dealer's  stock  must  be  enormous.  You 
will  naturally  ask,  "Then  why  add  more?"  My  ob- 
ject is  not  to  increase  them,  but  to  simmer  them 
down  to  nature's  reasonable  limit. 

Experts  have  told  me  that  their  list  of  flies  for 
the  entire  season  is  confined  to  twelve  varieties.  I 
should  hardly  consider  such  a  drastic  cut-down  suf- 
ficient to  get  fish  or  to  enjoy  good  sport.  I  do 
think  a  careful  selection  of  six  for  each  month  would 
be  a  better  outfit  to  attain  the  result  we  desire — 
fair  sport  and  fair  fish. 

May  is  the  only  month  of  the  entire  season  when 
trout  are  not  particular  which  fly  they  take,  and 
the  reason  for  that  is  quite  plain.  Natural  insects 
are  then  so  abundant  and  so  varied  that  all  are  alike 
to  them.  After  the  winter's  comparative  fast,  trout 
are  unusually  ravenous.  When  the  season  ad- 
vances you  must  needs  use  more  judgment  in  the 
kind  of  lure  you  offer,  or  you  do  not  get  a  rise. 

Of  course  most  anglers  have  one  or  more  favorite 
flies  that  reminiscence  of  happy  days  and  battles 
won  make  it  hard,  from  a  sentimental  point  of 
view,  to  throw  aside  and  forget.  But  I  maintain 
that  we  fish  for  pleasure  and  success.  Memory  of 
the  past  is  all  very  well ;  but  hope  is  the  fisherman's 
guide  to  beat  our  own  and  our  brother's  record. 
That  success  may  be  achieved  in  a  higher,  more 
learned  way  by  taking  nature  into  our  confidence 
and  using  flies  that  do  resemble,  as  far  as  possible 

15 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

in  wool  and  feathers,  the  insect  trout  take  day  by 
day  as  food. 

I  was  asked  by  the  author  of  "Dry  Fly  in  Swift 
Water"  whether  I  imagined  I  saw  the  natural  in- 
sect as  the  trout  sees  it?  My  response  was,  "Most 
certainly,  when  looking  at  its  under  body."  The 
fine  distinction  of  transparency  is,  in  my  opinion, 
too  far-fetched;  and  so,  too,  is  whether  trout  see 
colors  as  we  do.  It  seems  impossible  to  conceive 
that  a  trout  will  pause  to  consider  if  an  insect  is 
sweet  or  sour,  bright  or  dull,  large  or  small.  Were 
I  a  trout,  I  would  be  quick  to  seize  the  fat,  juicy 
body  of  the  brown  drake,  in  preference  to  the  hard, 
small  body  of  the  black  ant.  But,  if  no  drakes 
were  rising,  ants  would  suffice. 

This  will  furnish  an  example  of  the  wide  differ- 
ence in  opinions  from  the  supercritical  dry  fly  ex- 
ponent to  the  general  fisherman  who  takes  for 
granted  existing  conditions  as  he  finds  them. 

If  the  angler  will  carefully  study  a  page  or  two 
of  colored  commercial  flies,  he  will  observe  a  con- 
tinued weariness  of  the  same  cocked  wings  spread 
outward,  the  same  shaped  body,  all  of  the  same  size ; 
the  only  difference  being  in  the  color  of  wings, 
body,  and  hackle.  Let  them  be  compared  with  any 
one  of  the  monthly  plates  in  this  volume — no  matter 
if  it  be  the  natural  insect  or  the  imitation  flies.  See 
how  varied  nature  is,  not  only  in  the  classes,  but  in 

16 


THE  ARTIFICIAL  FLY  OF  COMMERCE 

the  remarkable  variety  of  different  members  in  each 
class. 

Aside  from  color,  if  you  take  the  family  of 
drakes,  for  example:  Every  part  of  the  body, 
head,  tail,  wings,  and  feet  of  each  insect  is  distinctly 
different  from  the  other  in  form  and  size.  Nature 
never  repeats  itself.  When  properly  classified 
there  is  a  gradual  development  of  form  and  color; 
gradual,  it  is  true,  but  very  decided  in  its  infinite 
variety  of  beauty. 

While  wading  a  trout  stream  you  will  observe 
that  nature  is  always  varied:  large  flies  and  small 
flies;  when  they  alight  their  wings  are  cocked,  or 
sloping  over  the  body,  or  they  may  lie  flat  on  the 
top.  You  may  depend  upon  it  that  trout  observe 
them,  and  know  it  just  as  we  do;  for  all  through 
their  life  they  are  on  the  watch  for  food. 


*stS55S5T 


17 


IV 


TROUT  FLIES  IN  APRIL— WHEN  INSECTS 
FIRST  APPEAR 


In  April  "Sol  wins  the  ascendency,  and  blunts 
the  sharp  teeth  of  rebellious  winds — withered  win- 
ter vanishes  in  flowery  green  and  woodland  music." 

The  native  song-sparrow  carols  merrily ;  the  blue- 
bird flits  by  in  familiar  companionship  with  the 
angler  alongside  the  stream.  The  fish-hawk  has 
returned  from  warmer  climes — bolder,  because 
more  hungry  in  spring  than  in  summer;  the  king- 
fisher, robed  in  gray,  attends  to  the  business  of  de- 
pleting the  stream  of  young  fish. 

"Trout  are  now  voracious  and  bold.  They  dash 
unerringly  at  the  passing  fly  without  fear  or  scru- 
ple. This  genial  life-cheering  month  teems  with 
sport  for  the  fly-fisher." 

Suddenly,  any  day,  all  along  the  river  trout  stir 
up  as  if  a  general  had  commanded  them  to  begin 
feeding;  but  not  before  the  waters  run  much  lower 
and  the  refreshing  warm  showers  come ;  then  "flies 
follow  flies  in  thick  succession  fast." 

In  early  spring  when  trout  begin  to  feed  they  are 

18 


TROUT  FLIES  IN  APRIL 

in  dead  earnest;  they  live  only  to  eat — much  more 
so  than  animals  and  birds,  whose  habits  require  time 
to  bathe,  trim  feathers  and  fur,  and  time  to  spend 
in  building  and  preparing  a  home.  No  creature 
living  on  land  has  nothing  to  do  but  feed  continu- 
ously day  and  night,  as  do  trout  during  May  and 
June.  I  have  opened  many  fish,  caught  on  the  fly 
or  with  worms,  that  were  stuffed  full  of  food,  yet 
ravenous  for  more. 

Trout  are  forced  to  fast  in  winter  because  nature 
is  dormant  in  the  very  cold  months.  Minnows  and 
other  small  food  fishes  lie  hidden  under  rocks  or 
embedded  in  mud  and  sand;  insect  life  is  the  same. 
But  immediately  the  ice  moves  and  floats  away,  the 
creepers  stir  about  the  river  bed,  and  they  furnish 
the  very  first  food  of  trout  at  the  beginning  of  the 
season. 

The  warm  rays  of  the  sun  rapidly  gain  power 
during  the  first  part  of  April,  and  the  most  hardy 
creepers  begin  to  rise  at  the  surface  in  sheltered 
spots.  Small,  dark-colored  duns  and  some  browns 
are  the  first  to  appear.  It  was  not  till  the  28th  of 
April,  a  fair,  warm  day,  I  observed  the  first  brown 
drake  (March  brown) ,  the  largest  and  most  impor- 
tant fly  in  April;  a  week  later  drakes  were  fairly 
plentiful,  and  trout  were  visibly  feeding  on  them 
as  they  fearlessly  sailed  like  little  brown  yachts 
down  the  stream. 

In  the  higher  mountain  altitudes  you  can  safely 

19 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

figure  on  ten  out  of  the  last  fifteen  days  of  April 
being  cold  and  chilly,  with  heavy  frost  and  snow 
flurries.  The  first  fifteen  days  of  May  the  nights 
are  almost  always  frosty.  In  1915  there  was  a 
heavy  frost  as  late  as  June  13th. 

Nos.  1  to  7  of  the  flies  pictured  on  the  colored 
page  for  April  were  captured  from  the  middle  to 
the  last  of  the  month  when  the  water  was  very  high 
and  cold  from  the  melted  snow,  which  was  still  visi- 
ble in  drifts  on  the  north  side  of  the  mountains. 
The  season  was  abnormally  late — two  weeks  at 
least.  Snow  was  falling  at  intervals,  but  it  melted 
as  it  fell.  Consequently  no  creepers  were  visible 
on  the  stones  at  the  side  of  the  stream  or  in  the 
water.  Minnows,  chub,  and  dace  had  not  come  up 
into  the  shallows.  What  trout  I  captured  in  the 
river  were  taken  with  worms;  and  they  were  all 
native  speckled  trout  and  rainbows ;  no  brown  trout 
responded  to  the  lures.  Upon  cutting  open  two 
large  fish  there  appeared  a  mass  of  black  creepers, 
some  of  which  were  quite  large  and  not  yet  seen 
at  the  riverside;  showing  conclusively  that  fish  had 
begun  to  feed  on  river-bed  creepers,  but  not  as  yet 
on  surface  flies.  I  could  not  possibly  rise  a  fish  on 
any  sort  of  fly ;  the  trout  were  ( for  the  time  being) 
absolutely  quiet,  lying  in  deep  pools  underneath 
the  rushing  water,  waiting  for  warm,  sunny  days 
and  higher  temperature  in  the  stream  after  the 
snow-water  should  flow  away. 

20 


I     i  \0  tee  ■  ' 


•   ! 


I 


i 


. 


'-I 

April  Insect  Chart 

Numbers  marked  with  asterisks  are  choice  flics  finely  tied  from  the  author's 
patterns  and  sold  by  his  agents 

No. 

Name 

Date  of  Rise 

Time  of 
Day 

Weather 

Family 

Order 

1 

Needle-Tail 

first  to  end  of  month 

any  time 

cold, 
cloudy 

Dun 

Tri- 
choptera 

Tri- 

choptera 

*  2 

Brown  Buzz 

first  to  end  of  month 

any  time 

cold, 
cloudy 

Dun 

3 

Short-Tail 

early  to  late 

anytime 

cold, 

cloudy 

Dun 

Tri- 

choptera 

*  4 

Brown 
Drake 

late,  scarce 

all  day 

warm , 
brightdays 

Drake 

Ephe- 
mera 

*  5 

Long- Tail 

late 

all  day 

cold, 
cloudy 

Drake 

Ephe- 
mera 

6 

Soldier 
Drake 

middle 

all  day 

warm  days 

Drake 

Ephe- 
mera 

7 

Sailor 
Drake 

middle 

all  day 

warm  and 
cold 

Drake 

Ephe- 
mera 

*  8 

Redbug 

early 

after- 
noons 

warm  and 
cold 

Beetle 

Colesp- 
tera 

*  9 

LONGHORN 

early 

all  day 

cold  days 

Stone -fly 

Perlidae 

*10 

COWDUNG 

early 

all  day 

warm , 

windy days 

Two- 
wing 

Diptera 

11 

Needle 
Spinner 

early 

all  day 

warm  days 

Spinner 

Diptera 

12 

Nobby 

Spinner 

middle 

after- 
noons 

cold  days 

Spinner 

Diptera 

13 

Little 
Mauve 

early 

all  day 

warm  days 

Dun 

Tri- 

choptera 

14 

Cocktail 

middle 

after- 
noons 

cold  days 

Dun 

Tri- 

choptera 

15 

Blue 
Cocktail 

early 

all  day 

warm  and 
cold 

Dun 

Tri- 
choptera 

*16 

Male 
Shad-Fly 

late 

all  day 

warm  and 
cold 

Dun 

Tri- 

choptera 

*17 

Female 
Shad-Fly 

late 

all  day 

warm  and 
cold 

Dun 

Tri- 
choptera 

*18 

Female 
with  Eggs 

late 

all  day 

warm  and 
cold 

Dun 

Tri- 
choptera 

Note — Shad  flies  also  occu>  in  May 

Chart  Key  to  Enable  Anglers  to  Fish  Intelligently 
According  to  Time,  Date  and  Rise 


A  SELECTION  OF  THE  BEST  TROT  T  [NSECTS  FOR  THE  MONTH  OF  APRIL  PAINTED 
FROM   LIFE  BY  THE  AUTHOR 


TROUT  FLIES  IN  APRIL 

From  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  of  the  temperate 
zone  the  prevailing  temperature  at  all  seasons  of 
the  year  is  so  entirely  different  from  that  in  Eng- 
land that  nothing  in  English  fishing  literature  can 
be  applied  to  our  streams.  Our  mountain  rivers 
and  lakes  freeze  over  to  a  depth  of  16  to  20  inches 
in  winter,  to  break  up  in  ice  gorges  and  floods  in 
spring,  while  the  summer  heat  and  periodical 
droughts  produce  conditions  upon  aquatic  insects 
and  fish  life  that  are  inconceivable  to  the  British 
angler. 

The  awakening  of  spring  is  erratic.  We  cannot 
always  rely  on  days  in  April  balmy  enough — espe- 
cially in  mountain  regions — to  produce  a  rise  of 
trout  flies.  But  in  sheltered,  sunny  places  there  are 
a  few  early,  hardy  flies  flitting  about  in  cold 
weather,  for  a  few  hours  around  midday.  Most 
of  these  flies  are  small  and  dark  in  color.  If  you 
try  a  fair  imitation,  even  in  places  where  they  are 
not  on  the  wing,  trout  do  sometimes  rise  to  them; 
but  not  till  the  snow-water  has  run  out.  Later  on, 
thousands  of  browns  and  duns  which  have  left  the 
creeper  state  and  are  lying  sheltered  under  stones, 
waiting  for  the  warmth,  appear  in  flight  quite  sud- 
denly after  a  couple  of  days'  warm  weather. 

The  first  fish  to  rise  to  the  artificial  fly  are  the 

little  redfins,  and  another  day  or  two  of  fine  weather 

the  native  speckled  or  rainbow  trout  may  be  seen 

feeding  at  the  surface. 

21 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

If  you  are  fortunate  enough  to  see  a  trout  feed- 
ing on  a  certain  species  of  fly,  it  is  easy  enough  to 
imitate  it  and  offer  your  fly  to  the  fish.  I  always 
keep  a  sharp  lookout  on  those  insects  most  abundant 
over  the  water,  and  imitate  them  as  nearly  as  pos- 
sible. 

Insects  rapidly  increase  during  the  last  few  days 
in  April,  both  in  variety  and  numbers ;  so  that  when 
May  comes  in,  the  number  is  three  or  four  times 
greater. 

The  more  I  study  the  subject,  the  more  certain  I 
am  of  the  wisdom  of  confining  my  attention  to  and 
being  thoroughly  acquainted  with  those  flies  best 
calculated  to  kill  trout,  be  they  rainbows,  speckled, 
or  browns.  Fortunately  the  same  flies  lure  equally 
well  all  three  species  of  trout. 

It  is  natural  to  suppose  that  if  trout  do  not  re- 
spond to  your  flies  they  are  feeding  on  creepers  at 
the  bottom,  to  rise  occasionally  when  a  tempting 
titbit  floats  by  overhead.  Trout  undoubtedly  must 
be  feeding  continually  on  these  creepers,  both  on 
the  bottom  and  while  they  are  ascending  to  the  sur- 
face for  the  change  into  the  imago  state,  even  be- 
fore the  short  time  it  takes  to  form  the  wings  per- 
fect enough  for  flight.  Thus  vast  numbers  of 
them  are  devoured. 

No.  1.  Needle-tail  dun.  This  active  little  ant- 
like fly  runs  along  rapidly,  and  just  as  quickly  it 
wriggles  over  the  water's  surface.     It  is  similar  to 

22 


TROUT  FLIES  IN  APRIL 

what  is  known  as  the  needle-brown  and  is  always 
mentioned  by  anglers  native  to  the  stream  as  a  black 
gnat.  While  in  motion  the  two  feelers  are  con- 
stantly moving  back  and  forth.  The  dark-brown- 
ish body  is  quite  plump,  though  hidden  by  the  over- 
lapping wings,  which  make  it  appear  very  much 
like  the  black  gnat.  Near  the  end  of  the  tail  are 
two  short  stylets ;  the  tail,  elongated  from  the  body, 
has  two  shorter  stylets  growing  out  at  the  end ;  and 
the  whole  seems  to  drag  on  the  ground  or  water  as 
the  insect  moves  along.  On  the  day  this  was  cap- 
tured the  weather  was  cloudy  and  the  water  very 
cold,  yet  they  were  quite  abundant,  both  flying  and 
resting  on  twigs  or  stones  at  the  water's  edge.  I 
have  proved  it  to  be  a  most  excellent  fly  if  tied  with 
plenty  of  hackle  at  the  shoulders  and  tail,  with  dark 
ribbed  body,  and  wings  a  steel  brown.  It  is  the 
first  fly  I  should  use  very  early  in  the  month  on 
cold,  cloudy  days. 

No.  2.  Brown  buzz.  This  is  a  small,  dark  dun, 
with  a  black  body  like  the  ant,  but  larger  and 
stouter.  The  dark-brown  wings  should  lap  well 
over  the  body.  A  curious  feature  is  the  absence 
of  either  feelers  or  stylets.  It  was  caught  while  in 
flight,  numbers  of  them  being  congregated  buzzing 
up  and  down  near  the  edge  of  the  stream.  The 
local  (Catskill)  name  is  brown  gnat.  It  disap- 
pears in  warm  weather. 

No  3.     Short-tail.     I  caught  this  flying  over  the 

23 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

water  on  a  bitter  cold  day  when  it  was  snowing.  It 
has  unusually  large  shoulders  and  a  very  small, 
black  body,  with  wings  that  appear  yellow  while  in 
flight.  The  gray-yellow  wings  are  mottled  in 
brown,  and  the  black  legs  are  quite  hairy.  This  is 
another  insect  of  larger  size  in  April.  I  am  confi- 
dent of  its  ability  to  lure  trout  better  than  any  ex- 
isting pattern  for  cold  and  stormy  days.  My  imi- 
tation has  been  tested  and  found  good  even  during 
cold  days  in  May. 

This  fly  was  absent  the  latter  part  of  the  month 
when  the  temperature  was  much  higher.  It  is  of 
less  consequence  what  date  these  insects  were  cap- 
tured; but  it  is  very  important  to  know  what  kind 
of  weather  they  are  on  the  wing.  A  study  of  the 
monthly  chart  will  enable  the  angler  to  know  what 
artificial  he  should  use  in  different  weather  condi- 
tions. 

No.  4.  Brown  drake  (March  brown) .  This 
has  its  greatest  rise  in  May,  but  if  the  weather  is 
warm  at  the  latter  end  of  April  it  appears  in  flight 
in  fair  numbers.  The  first  specimen  I  saw  was  on 
the  28th,  in  balmy  springlike  weather.  I  shall  defer 
a  description  of  this  insect  till  May ;  but  as  it  some- 
times does  happen  that  warm  weather  comes  early, 
it  would  be  advisable  to  have  a  few  brown  drakes 
in  stock  ready  for  use,  because  this  fly  is  of  the  first 
rank  in  getting  a  rise  of  trout. 

No.  5.     Long-tail  drakes.     So  named  from  its 

24 


TROUT  FLIES  IN  APRIL 

tail  being  longer  than  that  of  the  average  drake. 
It  appears  in  flight  rather  late  in  the  month  and 
may  be  seen  on  cloudy  days  over  the  water,  rising 
up  and  down  in  quick  movements,  along  with  spin- 
ners. It  is  an  excellent  fly,  that  may  be  used  at 
the  opening  of  the  season  till  the  middle  of  May, 
and  later  if  May  is  cold. 

No.  6.  Soldier  drake.  So  named  from  the 
bright  brown-red  coat  on  the  head  and  shoulders 
and  the  yellow  under  body.  It  is  a  lively  little  fly 
which  first  appears  about  the  middle  of  the  month 
if  the  sun  is  out.  It  appears  all  day  if  the  weather 
is  fairly  warm;  but  on  cold  days  after  emerging 
from  the  water  it  creeps  under  stones  at  the  water's 
edge  to  be  protected  from  the  cold.  It  is  a  very 
good  small  fly.  Its  beautiful,  fat  body  is  formed 
in  a  graceful  curve  as  it  stands  proudly  upright  on 
its  tall  legs,  and  the  long  stylets  curve  from  the  tail 
high  and  elegant  above  the  water.  The  wings  are 
a  creamy  white,  and  the  under  body  and  tail  a  soft, 
pale  yellow. 

No.  7.  Sailor  drake.  This  appears  at  the  same 
time  as  the  preceding,  but  is  more  hardy  and  is  pres- 
ent on  the  water  on  both  warm  and  cold  days.  It 
is  a  very  small,  yet  attractive,  dark-bluish  drake, 
most  often  seen  in  bunches  or  groups  flitting  about 
near  the  water  in  sheltered  places  on  cold  days  and 
out  on  the  river  when  the  sun  is  bright.  At  inter- 
vals some  leave  the  group  near  or  under  the  bare 

25 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

branches  of  willows.  It  is  a  pretty  little  fly,  dull 
in  color;  and  it  is  one  that  cannot  be  left  out  of  an 
April  list  of  good  flies. 

Ronalds  describes  two  flies,  the  "jenny  spinner" 
and  the  "iron  blue  dun,"  which  seem  to  correspond 
with  these  last  two  flies,  the  soldier  drake  and  the 
sailor  drake ;  the  sailor  being  captured  six  days  after 
the  soldier.  He  says:  "After  two  days  the  iron 
blue  changes  to  the  jenny  spinner."  I  can  furnish 
no  proof  that  the  sailor  drake  was  transformed  from 
the  soldier  drake,  though  I  captured  many  speci- 
mens both  at  rest  and  on  the  wing.  I  should,  how- 
ever, much  prefer  to  have  them  named  in  their  class 
as  small  blue  and  brown  drakes,  instead  of  duns  and 
spinners. 

No.  8.  Redbug.  This  handsome  little  beetle  is 
exceedingly  plentiful  early  in  April  on  warm  days. 
It  flies  swiftly  and  is  seen  a  great  deal  over  the 
water's  surface;  though  on  land  it  prefers  sandy 
places,  from  which  I  imagine  it  breeds  from  a  land 
creeper.  In  flight  its  appearance  is  very  attrac- 
tive, very  much  like  the  English  artificial  fly  named 
"marlow  buzz."  I  saw  several  specimens  floating 
on  the  surface  with  wings  outstretched;  and  I 
should  think  that  two  imitations,  one  at  rest,  the 
other  in  flight  as  seen  skimming  close  to  the  surface, 
would  be  an  excellent  April  fly.  The  one  I  have 
tied,  copying  the  insect  at  rest,  has  been  tested,  and 

26 


TROUT  FLIES  IN  APRIL 

trout  take  it  very  well  indeed  in  the  afternoons  of 
warm  days. 

Locally,  it  is  styled  the  redbug;  and  native  an- 
glers try  the  Montreal  fancy  fly  as  an  imitation 
of  it. 

No.  9.  Longhorn.  This  one  I  name  longhorn; 
it  is  locally  misnamed  the  willow  fly — so  called, 
I  assume,  from  its  habit  of  resting  on  and  walking 
rapidly  along  the  pussy-willow  stems.  It  is  truly  of 
the  "brown"  or  stone-fly  class  and  very  abundant. 
When  just  hatched  its  body  is  a  bright  shiny 
orange,  with  four  glossy  gray  wings  overlapping 
the  bodj\  I  saw  many  specimens  of  various  sizes 
on  the  willows  when  the  sun  was  out,  but  on  cold 
days  they  all  creep  under  the  stones  to  shelter  from 
the  snow  and  wind.  Later,  as  the  weather  gets 
warmer,  the  flight  is  very  thick  all  day  long  and  at 
evening  till  after  dark.  They  are  fat  and  must  be 
satisfying  trout  food  both  as  creeper  and  fly.  I 
have  made  the  artificial  of  deep  orange  on  the  body, 
with  flat  wings,  and  it  has  proved  one  of  the  very 
best  early  flies.  A  similar  fly  appears  later,  in 
May,  but  in  this  one  the  stylets  are  absent,  the  head 
is  smaller  and  more  pointed,  and  the  eyes  are  bulg- 
ing. 

No.  10.  Cozvdung.  A  well-known  and  most 
excellent  fly,  when  tied  properly.  It  appears  quite 
early  on  bright  warm  days,  and  the  artificial  is  best 

27 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

used  on  windy  days.  A  more  detailed  description 
of  this  insect  will  be  given  in  May,  when  it  is  much 
more  abundant. 

No.  11.  Needle  spinner.  This  flies  around 
early,  along  with  various  duns  and  small  drakes, 
in  the  daytime  on  warm  days.  It  is  quite  plentiful, 
congregating  in  bunches  six  feet  above  the  water's 
surface,  to  drop  down  now  and  then  and  also  to  as- 
cend higher.  It  will  prove  effective  when  lightly 
dropped  onto  the  surface  and  floated  along  a  run- 
way. 

No.  12.  Nobby  spinner.  This  is  larger  than 
the  previous  insect,  and  appears  later  in  the  month, 
on  warm  days,  mostly  afternoons.  When  the  sun 
is  absent  it  finds  a  sheltered  spot,  to  be  protected 
from  the  cold. 

No.  13.  Little  Mauve.  An  early,  dark-colored 
dun,  commonly  called  a  black  gnat — indeed,  the  na- 
tives style  a  great  many  insects  of  the  dun  class  the 
black  gnat.  It  is  an  excellent  small  fly,  and  the 
imitation  may  be  used  all  month. 

In  fact,  all  these  April  duns  are  useful  nearly 
every  month  of  the  season,  being  so  similar  to  the 
insects  that  rise  later  in  warm  weather;  for  that 
reason  a  supply  should  always  be  kept  in  stock: 
when  the  larger  drakes  are  absent  the  dark,  small 
duns  induce  trout  to  rise. 

No.  14-  Cocktail  dun.  A  somewhat  larger, 
brownish  dun,  with  two  long  feelers  and  long  hind 

38 


TROUT  FLIES  IN  APRIL 

legs.  In  flight  its  dark-greenish  wings  make  it  less 
conspicuous  near  the  surface;  but  these  duns  are 
often  very  thick  over  the  water  on  the  afternoons 
of  warm  days.  The  flight  becomes  more  numerous 
in  May ;  so  that  the  artificial  may  be  used  from  the 
middle  of  April  till  nearly  the  middle  of  June. 

No.  15.  Blue  cocktail.  This  is  another  variety 
of  the  dun  class.  It  is  small,  but  seems  hardy  and 
comes  out  in  the  coldest  weather  in  both  April  and 
May. 

These  various  little  duns  are  most  valuable,  both 
in  the  cold  weather  of  spring  and  in  the  hot  weather 
of  summer.  They  disappear  in  warm  weather,  but 
are  so  much  like  the  summer  gnats  that  the  imita- 
tions suffice  for  both.  The  blue  cocktail  shown 
here  was  caught  in  normal  weather,  though  the  wa- 
ter was  still  ice-cold,  and  trout  refused  to  rise. 

THE    SHAD-FLY 

In  consequence  of  the  large  number  of  insects 
that  appear  in  May,  I  found  it  impossible  to  show 
on  the  May  page  of  colored  insects  the  various  po- 
sitions of  the  shad-fly  I  wished  to  depict.  As  the 
April  insects  are  correspondingly  small,  I  place  the 
shad-fly  on  that  page.  Especially  so,  because  I  ob- 
served a  few  females  (though  small  in  size)  on  the 
water  during  the  latter  part  of  April.  The  female, 
without  the  egg-sack,  can  be  used  in  any  weather 
all  day  in  the  last  week  of  April. 

29 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

The  shad-fly,  during  the  great  flight,  is  the  most 
abundant  trout  insect  food  that  appears  during  the 
entire  season,  on  our  Eastern,  and  some  Middle 
and  far  Western,  streams.  For  that  reason  it  truly 
merits  a  more  detailed  description  than  any  other 
trout  insect.  Trout  are  always  ravenous  for  it,  yet 
a  true  imitation  of  this  handsome  fly  has  never  been 
made. 

Numerous  and  varied  are  the  reasons  for  its  name 
of  shad-fly.  My  old  friend,  William  Keener,  a 
famous  fly-fisherman  of  Roscoe,  N.  Y.,  says  this 
typical  aquatic  insect  has  been  known  as  the  shad- 
fly  for  seventy  years  at  least,  and  it  is  so  named 
because  its  flight  occurs  just  at  the  time  when  the 
shad  arrive  at  the  headwaters  of  the  Delaware 
River  to  spawn ;  while  so  doing  they  feed  upon  this 
fly,  thereby  attaining  a  fat  and  sleek  appearance 
after  spawning  time  is  over. 

A  second  reason  for  the  name  is  that  the  flight 
occurs  exactly  when  the  beautiful  white  woodland 
blossom  known  as  "shad-blow"  sheds  its  white 
petals,  to  be  blown  by  the  wind  on  the  water's  sur- 
face, lightly  floating  downstream. 

Thirdly,  the  name  was  given  because  the  egg- 
sack  attached  to  the  body  of  the  female  is  very 
much  like  shad  roe  in  shape  and  appearance,  except 
that  the  color  is  green. 

Of  course,  the  shad-fly  appears  on  rivers  where 
no  shad  spawn  or  shad-blow  trees  grow. 

30 


TROUT  FLIES  IN  APRIL 

Both  male  and  female  are  very  beautiful  in  shape 
and  color.  The  difference,  especially  in  color,  be- 
tween male  and  female  is  greater  than  in  any  other 
aquatic  insect  I  know.  From  a  glance  at  the  col- 
ored representations  it  will  be  seen  that  the  male  has 
two  large  and  two  small  wings  of  silvery  trans- 
parency, tinged  with  warm  yellow,  that  lap  over 
the  body  like  most  species  of  duns,  although  they 
rise  higher  over  the  body  than  the  wings  of  the  fe- 
male. The  tail,  in  seven  segments,  is  a  beautiful, 
soft,  gray-green  color,  in  striking  contrast  to  the 
vienna-brown  shoulders  and  long,  pliable  legs.  The 
head  is  small,  with  shining  black  eyes,  between 
which  grow  two  brown  feelers  or  horns,  moved  for- 
ward or  backward  at  will. 

The  more  sedately  colored  female  has  four  gray- 
brown,  mottled  wings  that  lap  down  just  over  the 
tail.  The  shoulders  are  bronze-green  above,  turn- 
ing to  purplish-black  at  the  belly;  and  the  feet,  as 
well  as  the  horns,  are  brown.  The  black  head  and 
eyes  of  the  female  are  somewhat  larger  than  those 
of  the  male.  The  tail  is  dark  brown,  with  a  dull 
band  of  yellow  ochre  along  the  sides.  At  the  end 
of  the  tail,  pushed  in  a  sort  of  cavity,  is  the  bright 
green  egg-sack,  which  is  easily  removed.  I  pulled 
quite  a  few  egg-sacks  from  the  body  and  placed 
them  in  shallow  water;  after  a  few  seconds  they 
sank  to  the  bottom.  I  have  so  far  not  been  able  to 
tell  for  certain  whether  the  shad-fly  deposits  the 

31 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

egg-sack  on  the  water's  surface,  where  it  frequently 
alights,  or  drops  it  while  in  flight;  I  should  incline 
to  believe  in  the  former. 

Both  the  fly  and  the  egg-sack  vary  in  size. 
Large  females  measure  fully  half  an  inch  from 
head  to  end  of  egg-sack,  and  three-quarters  of  an 
inch  from  head  to  tip  of  wings.  Egg-sacks  are  one- 
eighth  of  an  inch,  more  or  less. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  egg-sack  in  trout  diet  is 
a  juicy  morsel,  equal  in  food  quantity  to,  if  not 
greater  than,  many  of  the  bodies  of  the  small  drakes 
and  duns. 

I  have  been  more  particular  than  usual  in  the 
description  of  the  shad-fly,  because,  while  the  great 
flight  is  only  two  to  four  days,  the  insect  rises 
(more  or  less)  during  April,  May  and  June;  and 
my  artificial  representations  of  both  male  and  fe- 
male have  succeeded  in  rising  trout  in  a  surprising 
degree  in  all  those  three  months. 

In  consequence  of  my  absence  from  the  river  one 
season  during  the  annual  rise  (which  was  the  small- 
est on  record)  I  had  to  wait  a  year  to  get  the  fe- 
male with  eggs.  Then,  however,  I  was  most  for- 
tunate to  witness  what  I  may  term  a  preliminary 
rise — that  is,  a  first  great  hatch,  which  generally 
appears  before  the  real  or  final  hatch,  when  the  vast 
clouds  float  along  over  the  river  for  a  few  hours 
like  a  severe  snowstorm  reaching  up  both  forks  of 

32 


TROUT  FLIES  IN  APRIL 

the  river  (Beaverkill  and  Willowemoc)  to  a  dis- 
tance of  over  twenty  miles. 

The  early  part  of  May,  1915,  up  to  the  19th,  was 
unusually  cold  and  stormy,  with  frost  almost  every 
night  and  vegetation  two  weeks  late.  On  the  11th 
and  12th  of  the  month  the  temperature  suddenly 
changed  to  almost  summer  heat.  This  brought  out 
a  fair  rise  of  shad-fly,  mixed  with  a  heavy  flight  of 
small,  iron-colored  drakes  and  yellow  sallies. 
Then  came  a  sudden  decline  in  temperature  to  bit- 
ter cold.  Two  days  afterward,  with  slight  warm 
showers  and  rising  temperature,  the  great  rise  be- 
gan about  noon,  the  insects  flying  thick  from  the 
surface  to  thirty  feet  in  the  air,  and  all  remaining 
over  the  water  till  sunset.  It  would  be  a  feast  to 
the  eyes  of  most  anglers  to  see  the  water's  surface 
fairly  bubble  with  rising  fish,  fighting-mad  to  eat. 

The  shad-fly  is  exceedingly  active  and  strong  in 
flight,  which  makes  it  most  difficult  to  capture.  It 
is  somewhat  like  the  house  moth  in  action,  flutter- 
ing, rapidly  moving  in  all  directions,  to  get  out  of 
the  way  of  a  fly-net.  It  is  utterly  impossible  to 
capture  a  specimen  away  from  the  water;  as,  on 
very  rare  occasions  when  they  do  fly  over  land,  they 
go  from  twenty  to  forty  feet  high.  Sometimes,  but 
not  often,  they  do  take  a  rest  to  alight  on  leaves 
and  twigs  at  the  water's  edge,  but  their  movements 
are  rapid  in  every  way  when  efforts  are  made  to 

33 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

capture  them.  Yet  in  flight  they  appear  to  move 
slowly  and  quietly  along. 

The  shad-fly  is  an  excellent  floater,  and  spends 
much  time  walking  along  the  surface,  which  it  does 
with  ease. 

While  most  trout  flies  hide  themselves  behind 
large  stones  and  under  leaves  for  protection  from 
the  wind  and  rain  on  cold  days,  a  remarkable  fea- 
ture of  the  shad-fly  is  to  gather  together  in  a  great 
swarm  on  a  rock  by  the  riverside,  something  like  a 
swarm  of  bees.  If  you  brush  them  off  in  large  clus- 
ters to  the  water's  surface  they  spread  out,  floating 
down  with  the  current,  to  attract  a  surprising  num- 
ber of  trout  and  chub  which  rise  up,  making  the 
water  bubble  in  all  directions,  to  feed  and  gorge  on 
the  unexpected  feast. 

I  can  with  confidence  predict  that,  for  the  latter 
half  of  May  and  most  of  the  month  of  June,  the 
artificial  copy  of  this  insect,  either  male  or  female, 
will  be  found  by  fly-fishers  (both  wet  and  dry)  to 
be  superior  to  any  other  fly,  even  including  the  large 
green  and  gray  drake.  When  the  shad-fly  is  on 
the  water  you  never  fail  to  see  trout  rising;  and 
when  the  great  rise  appears,  it  is  impossible  to  catch 
a  trout  with  any  prevailing  fly  as  now  tied. 


34 


V 

TROUT  INSECTS  FOR  MAY 

The  smiling  month  of  May  is  indeed  the  an- 
gler's halcyon  days.  Hungry  trout  are  in  abun- 
dance; they  forage  and  feed  without  fear  or  scru- 
ple. When  the  weather  is  warm  myriads  of  flies 
flock  the  air  and  the  trout  revel  in  food  night  and 
day. 

Yet  it  is  not  always  so.  May  is  a  saucy,  coy 
month,  changeable  as  the  wind,  from  good  to  bad, 
and  bad  to  good,  all  of  a  sudden  in  the  mountain 
regions,  during  the  first  week  or  two.  After  a 
beautiful  day,  you  may  wake  up  the  next  morning 
to  see  a  fierce  snowstorm  or  perhaps  a  heavy  frost. 
Toward  the  end  May  robes  herself  in  bright  em- 
erald, and  the  woods  and  riverside  are  spangled  with 
spring  blossoms  and  golden  pussy-willows.  I  can 
imagine  nothing  more  delightful  than  fishing  for 
trout  at  the  end  of  May. 

In  1915,  during  the  early  part  of  the  month  the 
sky  was  cloudless,  the  weather  warm  though  windy, 
and  perhaps  a  little  in  advance  of  the  average  May. 
There  was  no  rain  or  frost  the  first  week,  and  the 

35 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

river  for  so  early  in  the  season  was  somewhat  low. 
The  coy  month  enticed  vegetation  to  spring  forth, 
and  to  the  insects  it  proved  a  gay  deceiver ;  for  dur- 
ing the  latter  part  such  abnormal  conditions  pre- 
vailed as  to  change  its  smiling  appearance  to  frigid 
February  or  to  weeping  and  blustering  March. 

New  York's  able  and  efficient  State  Fish  Cultur- 
ist,  Dr.  Tarleton  Bean,  had  allotted  the  Beaverkill 
the  year  previous  a  good  stock  of  fry,  part  of  which 
were  rainbows — now  nearly  two  years  old.  I  an- 
ticipated good  results;  and  every  angler  on  the 
stream  was  fully  satisfied. 

I  rarely  catch  a  brown  trout  during  the  latter 
half  of  April;  and  when  I  do,  they  are  poor,  thin, 
ill-conditioned  things.  In  the  Catskill  region  the 
brown  trout  begin  heavy  feeding  about  the  middle 
of  May,  and  they  soon  regain  their  plumpness  by 
continuously  eating,  night  and  day.  At  this  sea- 
son they  never  stop  eating,  as  they  do  in  summer, 
when  they  feed  only  at  night  from  sundown. 

On  the  first  of  May  I  caught  a  nineteen-inch 
trout  on  a  big  nightwalker  during  a  sudden  stream- 
flood.  It  was  so  emaciated  and  thin  as  to  weigh 
but  a  pound  and  a  half,  whereas  in  fine  condition 
it  would  have  been  at  least  as  heavy  again.  As  I 
would  never  eat  such  a  skinny-looking  thing,  I  put 
it  back  in  the  stream,  uninjured.  With  speckled 
trout  conditions  are  entirely  different.  They  are 
exceedingly  active  in  play  when  captured,  attacking 

36 


v 

. 

I* 

. 

1 

' 

. 

. 


. 


■  ■: 

!  T 

. 


I 


May   Insect   Chart 

X umbers  marked  tvith  asterisks  are  choice  flies  finely  tied  from  the  author's 
patterns  and  sold  by  his  agents 

No. 

Name 

Date  of  Rise 

Time  of 
Day 

Weather 

Family 

Order 

*1 

Green  Drake 

late 

any  time 

warm  days 
evenings 

Drake 

Ephemera 

*2 

Brown  Drake 

early  to  late 

all  day 

warm  days 
evenings 

Drake 

Ephemera 

3 

Black  Ant 

middle 

all  day 

warm  days 

Ants 

Hymen- 
optera 

*4 

Mottled  Drake 

middle 

all  day 

warm  days 

Ants 

Hymen- 
optera 

*5 

Cinnamon 

early 

evenings 
afternoons 

cloudy 
dark  days 

Dun 

Tri- 
choptera 

*6 

Sandy 

late 

evening's  & 
mornings 

cold  days 

Dun 

Tri- 
choptera 

7 

Purple  Drake 

early 

mornings 

cold  days 

Drake 

Ephemera 

*S 

Gray  Drake 

middle 

all  day 

warm  days 

Drake 

Ephemera 

9 

Gauze-Wing 

middle 

afternoons 
evenings 

warm  days 

Stone-Fly 

Perlidae 

*10 

Yellow  Sally 

early  to  late 

evenings 

warm  days 

Stone-Fly 

Perlidae 

*11 

Flathead 

early 

all  day 

warm  days 

Stone-Fly 

Perlidae 

*12 

Alder-Fly 

early 

evenings 

all  times 

Dun 

Tri- 
choptera 

13 

Orange  Stone 

early  to  late 

all  day 

all  times 

Stone-Fly 

Perlidae 

14 

Horned 

Spinner 

early  to  late 

all  day 

all  times 

Spinner 

Diptera 

15 

Crane  Spinner 

early  to  late 

all  day 

all  times 

Spinner 

Diptera 

16 

Green  Spinner 

early  to  late 

all  day 

evenings 

Spinner 

Diptera 

*17 

Golden  Spinner 

middle 

all  day 

warm  days 

Spinner 

Diptera 

18 

Cotta-Fly 

late 

afternoons 

warm  days 

Four-Wing 

Hymen- 
optera 

19 

Glossy-Fly 

middle 

day  and 
evenings 

all  times 

Four-Wing 

Hymen- 
optera 

20 

Bluebottle 

early 

all  day 

windy  days 

Two -Wing 

Diptera 

21 

Cowdung 

early 

day  time 

cold  days 

Two -Wing 

Diptera 

22 

Yellow-Horn* 

early  to  la-te 

evenings 

all  times 

Dun 

Tri- 
choptera 

23 

Speckled  Dun 

early  to  late 

all  day 

warm  days 

Dun 

Tri- 
choptera 

Chart  Key  to  Enable  Anglers  to  Fish  Intelligently 
According  to  Time,  Date  and  Rise 


A.  SELECTION  OF  THE  BEST  TROUT  [NSECTS  FOB  THE  MONTH  OF  MAY   PAINTED 
FBOM   LIFE  BY  THE  AUTHOB 


TROUT  INSECTS  FOR  MAY 

both  fly  and  bait  with  equal  vim,  and  are  plump  and 
in  splendid  condition  when  the  season  opens.  This 
establishes  a  fact,  I  think :  that  the  brown  trout  does 
little  or  no  feeding  during  the  winter,  and  that  the 
brook  or  speckled  trout  feed  at  all  seasons.  I  have 
opened  many  a  well-conditioned  native  trout  early 
in  the  season,  to  find  that  their  stomachs  contain 
very  little  food — mostly  small  creepers  from  the 
river  bed,  a  mixed  mass,  black  in  color,  showing 
they  devoured  both  creeper  and  case.  Our  native 
trout,  I  think,  does  not  begin  to  eat  fish  food  till  it 
attains  a  fair  growth  of  about  ten  inches  in  length, 
whereas  the  brown  trout  takes  very  small  fish  as 
food  when  only  five  inches  long,  or  about  a  year 
old;  they  will  take  artificial  flies  before  that. 

Many  of  the  insects  captured  in  the  first  few 
days  of  May  were  the  same  that  I  observed  late  in 
April.  A  fairly  good  rise  of  yellow  sallies  ap- 
peared the  third  day;  and  the  brown  drake  came 
out  in  increasing  numbers.  The  large  green  drake 
did  not  appear  till  the  18th.  Every  day  the  shad- 
fly  became  more  numerous;  so,  too,  the  cowdung 
and  the  bluebottle  were  quite  plentiful. 

No.  1.  Green  drake.  This  is  the  largest  (ex- 
cept the  big  stone-fly) ,  though  not  the  most  beauti- 
ful, aquatic  insect  that  trout  feed  upon.  Its  long, 
fat  body  proves  a  very  alluring  bait.  Indeed,  it 
is  so  good  that  even  very  poor  imitations  are  greed- 
ily taken  by  large  and  small  trout  during  the  entire 

37 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

period  that  the  natural  insect  moves  over  the  water. 

The  green  drakes  do  not  appear  to  rise  over  the 
waters  of  the  Catskill  region  in  vast  clouds  such 
as  are  described  on  British  streams,  or  some  other 
American  waters,  as,  for  instance,  Lake  George. 
They  are,  nevertheless,  quite  abundant  on  the 
Beaverkill  and  neighboring  streams,  both  in  the 
daytime  and  at  evening.  I  have  counted  forty 
specimens  of  both  sexes  in  one  locality  floating  and 
flying  over  the  water. 

The  female  floats  gracefully  along  the  surface 
for  a  considerable  distance,  at  intervals  rising  and 
dropping  until  devoured.  In  its  flight  it  is  of  a 
decidedly  yellow-greenish  tint,  and  it  lives  three  or 
four  days  as  here  pictured ;  then  the  female  changes 
to  what  is  known  as  the  gray  drake,  casting  away 
its  garb  of  delicate  yellow-green  and  appearing 
in  one  of  soft  gray.  The  wings  become  more  trans- 
parent and  sparkling,  and  the  fly  more  active  in 
this,  its  final,  existence.  The  male,  smaller  than 
the  female  and  not  nearly  so  beautiful  or  so  fat, 
changes  to  what  is  known  as  the  black  drake.  The 
under  part  of  both  male  and  female  is  pale  yellow. 

The  green  drake,  while  the  most  luscious  and 
tempting  of  trout  food  during  its  short  rise  in  the 
month  of  May,  is  not  by  any  means  the  most  abun- 
dant of  the  insects  found  in  the  locality  here  de- 
scribed; though  a  good  imitation  will  be  found  an 
unfailing  lure  for  the  large-sized  brown  or  rainbow 

38 


TROUT  INSECTS  FOR  MAY 

trout.  This  splendid  fly,  alternated  with  the 
brown  drake,  both  tied  on  No.  6  or  No.  8  hooks, 
would  be  unequaled  for  use  in  the  last  week  in 
May  and  the  first  week  in  June.  However  good 
this  fly  is  known  far  and  wide  to  be,  personally  I 
should  give  it  second  place  to  the  female  shad-fly 
when  that  insect  is  rising  and  laying  its  eggs. 

Xo.  2.  Brown  drake  (March  brown).  This 
has  always  been  a  prime  favorite  with  both  angler 
and  trout.  As  for  myself,  whenever  I  see  a  cloud 
of  these  drakes  joyfully  flitting  over  the  water,  I 
put  awa}^  other  flies,  and  fish  more  earnestly  than 
ever  with  the  English  dry  fly  imitation.  The  imi- 
tation of  this  insect  by  English  fly-makers  seems 
to  me  better  than  that  made  by  American  fly-mak- 
ers; but  neither  imitation  is  true  to  nature  in  rep- 
resenting the  under  body  dark  when  the  insect  is 
a  light  pale  yellow  underneath.  The  tail,  also, 
should  be  cocked  up,  a  detached  body  above  the 
hook,  and  the  stylets  of  greater  length. 

While  isolated  specimens  of  the  brown  drake  are 
seen  toward  the  end  of  April,  in  the  warmer 
weather  of  May  these  insects  gradually  become 
more  and  more  abundant  on  the  Beaverkill,  flitting 
up  and  down  over  the  water,  sometimes  fifteen  feet 
in  the  air,  where  occasionally  the  sexes  meet  and 
fall  together  to  the  surface  of  the  water,  when  they 
are  greedily  taken  up  by  the  trout.  The  pliable, 
long,  fat  body  of  this  insect  soon  fills  up  what  space 

39 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

is  left  in  the  stomach  of  a  trout.  It  is  an  excellent 
floater  on  the  surface,  and  with  its  wings  erect  and 
close  together  it  tempts  a  trout  to  feed  as  no  other 
insect  can.  Toward  the  end  of  the  month  the  rise 
gradually  diminishes;  but,  as  in  April,  so  in  part 
of  June,  they  still  are  seen,  though  only  in  scat- 
tered numbers. 

This  insect  is  just  about  the  right  size  for  the 
average  fish;  rainbows  are  particularly  partial  to 
it,  either  in  the  daytime  or  at  evening.  In  fact,  it 
is  the  best  fly  of  the  month,  taking  it  altogether,  be- 
cause no  matter  what  the  weather  may  be,  wet  or 
dry,  warm  or  cold,  high  or  low  water,  the  brown 
drake  will  rise  a  fish. 

No.  3.  Yellow  drake.  While  smaller  in  size, 
this  is  an  excellent  fly  for  all  occasions  during  the 
entire  month.  Its  yellow  body  is  fat  and  must 
prove  a  dainty  trout  morsel ;  for,  floating  fearlessly, 
always  at  the  surface,  it  is  taken  in  great  numbers. 
It  is  one  of  the  few  drakes  with  three  stylets;  the 
majority  have  only  two.  The  rise  begins  early  in 
the  month,  and  later  you  see  the  yellow  drake 
everywhere,  both  day  and  evening. 

No.  4>  Mottled  drake.  This  handsome  little 
fly  is  an  excellent  floater  and  for  that  reason  should, 
when  possible,  be  fished  at  the  surface,  where  it  may 
be  seen  plentifully  at  all  times  of  the  day  and  eve- 
ning. The  high,  mottled  legs  raise  the  body  to 
make  it  seem  a  much  larger  insect  than  it  is.     At 

40 


TROUT  INSECTS  FOR  MAY 

evening,  when  mottled  drakes  are  most  numerous, 
congregating  in  bunches,  then  dropping  to  the  sur- 
face, where  they  stay  longer  than  is  usual  with 
other  drakes,  you  see  the  trout  taking  them  in  large 
numbers. 

No.  5.  Cinnamon.  The  only  specimen  of  this 
species  caught  during  the  month,  though  there  are 
quite  a  number,  both  larger  and  smaller  in  size,  of 
this  caddis  family.  This  particular  insect,  which 
floats  on  the  surface  quite  frequently,  may  be  tied 
to  use  by  the  dry  fly  method,  casting  upstream  on 
rather  rough  rapids. 

No.  6.  Sandy.  This  little  sand-fly  is  a  trimly 
built  insect  that  flits  about  rocks  and  pebbles,  very 
active  on  its  feet  as  well  as  on  the  wing.  It  is  quite 
abundant  and  evidently  a  favorite  trout  titbit.  Its 
four  dark  brownish-gray  wings  fold  tightly  over 
the  fat,  dark-brown  body.  At  times,  especially 
when  in  flight,  the  two  horns,  or  feelers,  are  thrown 
backward  over  the  shoulders  in  line  with  the  body. 
Though  quite  at  home  floating  on  the  surface,  even 
in  rough  water,  the  sandy  is  nevertheless  most  fre- 
quently seen  about  the  stony  banks  of  the  stream, 
at  all  hours  of  the  day  except  from  late  afternoon 
till  dusk,  when  it  stays  over  the  water  all  the  time. 
It  is  then — late  evenings — a  most  effective  lure. 

The  English  sand-fly  is  a  fairly  good  representa- 
tion of  this  insect.  It  does  not  appear  to  be  pop- 
ular with  American  anglers;  though  I  feel  sure 

41 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

that  if  the  artificial  I  have  tied  is  used  it  will  prove 
a  second-best  to  the  brown  drake.  To  be  most  ef- 
fective it  should  be  made  to  float ;  indeed,  all  insects 
that  float  naturally  a  good  deal  on  the  water  should 
be  so  imitated  and  fished  by  the  dry  fly  method. 
Those  insects  which  do  not  and  cannot  float  but 
are  blown  about  the  water  and  drowned,  should 
have  the  artificial  flies  made  to  fish  by  the  wet  fly 
method. 

No.  7.  Purple  drake.  A  small  insect,  which  is 
very  common  all  through  May,  and  also  in  June. 
It  rises  in  large  numbers  early  in  the  month  and 
may  be  seen  on  the  coldest  days.  It  is  quite  small 
and  appears  in  flight  much  darker  than  on  close  ob- 
servation. It  is  best  used  in  early  mornings  be- 
fore larger  and  more  important  flies  are  on  the 
wing. 

No.  8.  Black  ant.  I  fail  to  see  why  trout 
should  condescend  to  take  this  insect,  with  its  puny 
body  encased  in  a  hard  black  shell,  when  fat,  juicy 
insects  are  almost  always  at  hand.  Yet,  time  and 
again,  I  have  proved  the  artificial  black  ant  to  be  ex- 
cellent in  coaxing  fish  to  rise  at  all  times  of  day.  My 
own  imitation  was  used  in  June  and  July  with  good 
results.  In  the  middle  and  latter  part  of  May  the 
black  ants  swarm  in  large  numbers,  flying  along 
the  river  in  vast  clouds.  There  are  two  sizes,  both 
alike  in  shape  and  color.  I  have  not  yet  seen  what 
is  known  as  the  red  ant ;  but  in  the  plate  for  August 


TROUT  INSECTS  FOR  MAY 

will  be  noticed  the  sage-green  ant,  a  much  larger 
and  more  desirable  insect,  which  is  described  in  its 
proper  place.  When  at  rest,  the  long  wings  of  the 
black  ant  lie  flat  on  the  body  and  are  of  a 
glossy  bronze  color. 

No.  9.  Gauze-tving.  As  a  choice  titbit  for 
trout,  the  gauze-wing  is  similar  to  the  yellow  sally. 
Its  wings,  which  are  of  a  silvery  transparency,  are 
wider  and  lap  together  more  closely  on  each  side 
of  its  long,  greenish-yellow  body.  I  have  made  the 
imitation  wings  nearly  white,  and  have  found  it  a 
good  evening  fly.  The  gauze-wing  is  very  plenti- 
ful shortly  before  and  after  sunset.  It  flies  very 
slowly  near  the  surface  of  the  water,  where  it  alights 
at  short  intervals. 

There  is  a  beautiful  representation  of  this  insect 
in  Ronalds'  "Entomology,"  the  wings  being  made 
of  a  pale  blue  dun  hackle;  but  I  should  imagine 
that  from  the  trout's  point  of  view,  a  light  wing 
over  the  green  body  would  be  truer  to  nature. 

No.  10.  Yellow  sally.  This  insect,  the  first 
that  was  captured,  is  fairly  plentiful  early  in  May. 
Although  a  day  fly,  with  a  preference  for  dark  days, 
it  is  most  abundant  at  evening,  when  it  may  be  seen 
moving  slowly  along  the  riverside,  its  fat,  heavy 
body  hanging  down,  as  if  too  great  a  load  were 
carried  by  its  delicate  wings.  Sometimes  in  cross- 
ing the  stream  it  is  blown  to  the  surface  of  the  wa- 
ter, where  it  struggles  ineffectually,  unable  to  re- 

43 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

gain  its  flight.  It  is  a  solitary  insect,  never  travel- 
ing in  pairs  or  in  groups.  It  is  taken  with  great 
avidity  by  trout;  though  I  have  never  had  a  rise 
on  the  artificial  fly  as  now  tied.  The  imitations  all 
show  bright  yellow  wings,  erect  or  cocked,  whereas 
the  wings  should  be  light  blue-gray  and  lie  nearly 
flat  over  the  body,  with  the  hackle,  horns  and  tail 
of  a  deep  yellow. 

No.  11.  Flathead.  One  of  the  numerous  stone- 
flies  seen  in  May.  It  is  large  enough  to  use  in  its 
natural  state  if  empaled  by  the  thorax  on  a  No.  6 
hook  and  carefully  manipulated  with  a  fine  nine- 
foot  leader,  as  you  would  a  worm,  in  various  run- 
ways or  pools  where  trout  lie.  But  I  have  had  ex- 
cellent results,  in  both  June  and  July,  from  the  imi- 
tations I  have  made  in  various  sizes;  as  these  flies 
appear  to  rise  in  goodly  numbers  every  month  of 
the  season. 

Stone  flies  vary  in  size  and  color,  according  to 
genus,  and  are  found  in  greater  abundance  near  the 
part  of  the  river  which  has  a  stony  or  rocky  bottom. 
When  the  creeper  is  ready  to  change  into  the  insect, 
it  seeks  the  edge  of  the  stream  and  attaches  itself 
by  a  glue-like  substance  to  the  under  side  of  a  stone. 
It  then  crawls  to  the  upper  side  of  the  stone,  or  to 
the  stem  of  an  aquatic  plant,  where  the  skin  splits 
open,  permitting  the  winged  or  "perfect  fly"  to  es- 
cape. 

The  stone-fly  prefers  to  come  out  at  dark,  or  on 

44, 


TROUT  INSECTS  FOR  MAY 

dark  days,  and  flies  more  often  at  evening.  Its 
lower  wings  are  much  larger  than  the  upper  and 
are  placed  quite  far  down  on  the  third  segment  of 
the  thorax ;  thus  in  flight  it  appears  like  two  insects 
moving  very  slowly  in  the  air.  When  at  rest  the 
wings  he  flat  and  hang  folded  together,  a  little 
wider  than  the  back  and  extending  some  distance 
over  the  tail. 

Stone-flies  do  not  drop  to  the  surface  to  deposit 
their  eggs  as  do  the  drakes.  Halford  states  in  his 
"Entomology":  "The  female  drops  them  proba- 
bly while  flying  at  some  distance  above  the  water, 
and  they  separate  as  they  sink  toward  the  bed  of 
the  river."  The  fly,  when  it  first  emerges  from  its 
case,  is  quite  soft  and  of  a  pale  yellow,  but  it  soon 
changes  to  a  deeper  brown.  At  all  times  it  is  heavy 
in  flight.  The  slightest  touch  disables  it;  and  it 
cannot  rise  from  the  surface  if,  by  accident,  it- 
touches  the  water. 

No.  12.  Alder-fly.  While  plentiful  among  the 
bushes  and  tall  grass  at  evening,  it  does  not  seem 
inclined  to  hover  over  the  water  as  do  many  other 
insects.  Nevertheless,  it  is  a  favorite  evening  fly 
and  should  be  used  as  a  wet  fly  only.  It  is  equally 
as  good  lure  by  day  as  by  evening ;  though  it  is  gen- 
erally used  as  second  fly,  because  while  casting  it 
cannot  be  seen  so  well  as  a  light-winged  fly.  It  is 
a  very  black  insect;  larger  than  the  black  gnat,  its 
wings   being  wider  and  hanging  lower  down  on 

45 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

each  side  of  the  body.  When  there  is  a  dearth  of 
flies  on  the  water,  it  is  a  good  fly  to  use  as  a  test  in 
getting  trout  to  rise. 

No.  13.  Orange  stone.  A  smaller  and  more 
brightly  tinted  stone-fly  than  No.  12,  and  with  a 
few  different  characteristics,  though  in  the  main  it 
is  similar.  I  caught  in  May  a  great  many  speci- 
mens of  this  family,  and  only  place  this  particular 
insect  to  show  the  more  vivid  color  of  the  body.  Its 
size  is  just  right  for  trout,  and  my  imitation  is  very 
successful. 

No.  14-.  Horned  spinner.  (Slightly  smaller 
than  the  representation.)  The  horned  spinner  is 
often  seen  among  a  cloud  of  brown  drakes,  where 
they  fly  over  the  water,  dipping  and  rising  as  the 
two  sexes  meet.  Sometimes  the  long  horns,  or  feel- 
ers, project  forward,  then  again  lie  flat  on  the  back. 
In  their  wavy  motions  while  flying  they  often  touch 
the  water,  and  are  sure  to  entice  a  rising  trout. 
When  resting  on  a  stone  or  leaf,  their  long  legs  fit 
quite  close  to  the  body  and  the  horns  lie  backward. 

No.  15.  Crane  spinner.  This  insect  moves 
about,  sometimes  resting  on  large  stones  that  rise 
above  the  water's  surface,  then  alighting  on  smooth 
shallow  water,  where  it  is  taken  greedily  by  the  big 
chub.  Crane  spinners  invariably  move  in  pairs; 
and,  though  not  abundant,  they  may  be  seen  at  all 
times  of  day  as  well  as  of  evening.  The  body  of 
the  insect  makes  a  good-sized  tempting  meal  for  a 

46 


TROUT  INSECTS  FOR  MAY 

trout;  and  a  good  imitation  will  not  fail  to  get  a 
rise.  I  do  not  often  see  this  fine  insect  in  places 
where  trout  lie  in  wait  for  food;  it  seems  to  prefer 
quiet  shallows,  or  rocky  boulders  on  the  riverside 
where  the  water  is  not  deep.  On  windy  days  large 
numbers  are  blown  off  the  stones  on  to  the  water; 
but,  unless  quickly  taken  by  the  fish,  they  soon  re- 
cover and  rise  from  the  surface.  The  June  spin- 
ners, quite  similar  in  form,  are  very  different  in 
their  habit  of  frequenting  the  middle  stream  over 
rapid  water. 

No.  16.  Green  spinner.  This  little  spinner  is 
more  often  seen  in  rough  water,  and  skims  around 
near  the  surface.  It  is  abundant  all  through  the 
month,  and  during  part  of  June. 

No.  17.  Golden  spinner.  First  observed  in  the 
middle  of  the  month,  and  not  common  till  June  and 
July.  The  general  tone  of  creamy-orange  makes 
it  an  attractive-looking  fly  on  the  wing. 

Making  artificials  of  these  spinners  is,  so  far  as 
I  know,  an  innovation,  as  I  have  not  seen  them  tied 
to  imitate  the  natural  insect.  I  have  tested  the 
artificials  with  success. 

No.  18.  Cotta-fly.  An  insect  fairly  common  at 
the  riverside,  where  it  flies  about  the  willow  and 
alder  bushes.  It  was  captured  flying  near  the  wa- 
ter's surface.  The  beautiful,  deep  terra  cotta  body 
is  in  striking  contrast  to  the  black  thorax  and  head, 
with  the  wings  of  a  gauzy  blue.     It  makes  a  hand- 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

some  artificial  fly  and  can  be  used  as  a  floater,  fished 
over  smooth  places  near  the  willows  and  alder 
bushes. 

No.  19.  Glossy -fly.  An  ugly-looking  black  in- 
sect, quite  plentiful  among  the  willows  and  flying 
about  the  alder  leaves  that  overhang  the  water, 
hunting  and  feeding  on  smaller  insects.  The  body 
is  glossy  black,  with  brown-gray  wings.  The  imi- 
tation, as  here  shown,  will  doubtless  prove  a  good 
lure  if  used  as  a  floating  fly  near  bushes;  for  the 
natural  insect  floats  fairly  well  with  wings  cocked 
over  the  body. 

On  the  Beaverkill,  where  this  insect  was  cap- 
tured, black  and  dark  flies  are  greater  favorites 
than  flies  with  light  wings  and  body,  in  the  early 
season  before  the  green  and  gray  drakes  are  on  the 
wing.  This  will  be  the  case,  no  doubt,  in  other  lo- 
calities. 

No.  20.  Bluebottle.  This  represents  the  well- 
known  bluebottle  fly,  of  which  there  are  many  ex- 
amples in  various  sizes.  These  insects  are  always 
more  abundant  near  farms  and  dwellings  or  near 
refuse  cast  along  the  stream  at  the  outside  of  vil- 
lages. It  makes  a  handsome  artificial  fly,  and  can 
be  used  as  a  floater  or,  with  extra  long  hackle, 
played  as  a  buzz  fly,  and  fished  over  smooth  places 
near  the  willow  and  alder  bushes.  Bluebottles  are 
often  driven  to  midstream  on  windy  days,  and,  as 
they  cannot  float,  are  drowned.     They  kick  frantic- 

48 


TROUT  INSECTS  FOR  MAY 

ally,  spinning  round  and  round  till  seen  by  a  trout, 
when,  flop!  all  is  over.  The  artificial  should  be 
fished  wet  on  windy  days. 

No.  21.  Cowdung.  This  fly  has  always  been 
a  favorite  with  anglers.  It  is,  during  May,  ex- 
ceedingly plentiful  over  the  water  on  bright,  breezy 
days,  and  will  drop  and  float  for  a  short  period; 
but  it  seems  to  be  unable  to  rise  freely  from  the 
surface  like  many  of  the  purely  aquatic  insects.  It 
makes  an  excellent  floating  dry  fly;  and  the  same 
may  be  said  of  it  as  a  wet  fly. 

The  cowdung  is  now  tied  in  many  different  ways 
and  colors,  even  showing  the  slight  difference  as  to 
size  and  color  between  the  male  and  female.  Some 
fly-makers  have  even  gone  so  far  as  to  make  a  com- 
bination of  the  two.  Trout  are  much  too  wise, 
when  feeding,  to  have  a  preference  for  either  sex 
of  any  insect  except  when  females  are  egg  swollen. 
Offer  them  a  true  imitation  of  an  insect  with  which 
they  are  familiar,  and  ten  to  one  it  will  be  taken, 
no  matter  to  which  sex  it  supposedly  belongs. 

I  have  never  seen  either  an  American  or  an  Eng- 
lish imitation  that  showed  the  tail  copied  true.  It 
should  be  much  thicker  at  the  end  than  near  the 
thorax.  There  also  should  be  five  bands  of  ffreen 
on  the  tawny  orange  tail. 

No.  22.  Yellow-horn.  Another  of  the  small 
duns,  so  very  abundant  during  the  entire  month. 
The  long  yellow  horns  are  used  as  feelers,  being 

49 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

moved  back  and  forth  continuously.  The  dull 
gray-black  wings  lie  close  over  the  long,  thin  body. 
The  imitation  is  useful  at  any  time,  and  may  be 
continued  through  June,  as  the  yellow-horn  con- 
tinues to  rise  throughout  that  month. 

No.  23.  Speckled  dun.  This  is  very  similar  in 
size  and  shape,  but  much  more  attractively  colored. 
It  is  out  on  warm  days  in  great  numbers;  and  the 
imitation  makes  one  of  the  best  small  duns  of  the 
entire  season.  The  speckled  dun  continues  in  flight 
through  June,  and  a  few  may  be  seen  in  July; 
though  the  specimens  I  caught  in  that  month  were 
slightly  larger  and  darker  in  color.  It  is  a  first- 
rate  little  floater ;  in  fact,  when  the  large  drakes  are 
absent  these  small  duns  are  the  flies  best  to  use; 

I  venture  to  assert  that  this  selection  of  insects 
is  more  than  sufficient  for  the  purpose  of  the  prac- 
tical fly-fisher  during  the  month  of  May.  Some  of 
these  insects  continue  over  the  water  through  June 
or  even  longer,  while  others  appear  before  May — 
in  fact,  even  as  early  as  March.  I  also  am  quite 
sure  these  insects  will  be  found  useful  for  fishing 
in  all  the  trout  waters  of  the  temperate  regions,  in 
the  East  and  in  the  Middle  West. 

May  insects  are  so  very  numerous  that  I  found 
it  the  greatest  difficulty  to  bring  down,  by  elimina- 
tion, the  number  to  reasonable  limits ;  I  was  guided 
in  the  selection  by  my  experience  in  past  years  as 

50 


TROUT  INSECTS  FOR  MAY 

to  which  were  most  valuable  in  each  class.  I  think 
it  is  desirable  to  cut  down  still  further  the  number 
pictured  on  the  May  page  to,  say,  eight  specimens, 
viz.:  two  drakes,  two  duns,  two  browns,  one  spin- 
ner, and  a  two-winged  fly,  the  cowdung  preferred. 

Each  monthly  page  contains  an  average  of 
twenty  flies,  and  for  the  season  makes  a  round  hun- 
dred. I  don't  suppose  any  angler  would  want  such 
a  large  variety,  because  it  is  always  well  to  have 
more  than  one  specimen  of  each  fly  in  stock.  It  is 
for  that  reason  I  shall  give  a  selection  from  each 
colored  page  of  those  flies  mose  needed,  and  best 
worthy  to  use. 

It  is  impossible  to  tell  in  advance  what  natural 
insects  are  on  the  wing,  because  their  flight  depends 
so  much  on  weather  conditions;  but  I  can,  with 
some  degree  of  certainty,  tell  the  right  times  to  use 
each  of  the  different  flies.  And  this  information  is 
given,  as  far  as  it  is  possible  to  do  so,  in  the  charts 
that  accompany  the  colored  pages. 


61 


VI 


THE  BEST  TROUT  INSECTS  FOR  JUNE 


After  a  glance  at  the  page  of  insects  for  June 
it  will  be  observed  that  drakes  and  spinners  largely 
predominate  over  the  duns.  The  duns  are  hatch- 
ing very  numerously,  but  the  major  part  are  quite 
small  in  size  and  not  useful  for  imitation.  In  both 
April  and  May  we  see  many  more  duns  than 
drakes ;  but  as  the  weather  gets  hotter  the  duns  are 
still  more  scarce. 

Many  and  varied  are  the  drakes,  as  to  both  color 
and  size,  that  are  hatching  and  being  taken  by  the 
fish  in  the  morning  hours,  then  again  at  evening, 
just  before  sunset,  till  dark,  and  throughout  the 
night. 

As  the  vital  heat  of  the  sun  keeps  increasing,  so 
do  the  flies  increase  in  abundance  and  variety. 
None  is  quite  so  large  as  the  green  drake  of  last 
month,  but  the  average  size  is  larger  than  the  av- 
erage for  May. 

Throughout  May  the  fish  are  very  ravenous; 
they  become  fat  on  the  big  stone-fly,  green  drake, 
shad-fly  and  other  fair-sized  insects;  and  thus  it  is 

52 


THE  BEST  TROUT  INSECTS  FOR  JUNE 

that  sport  is  neither  so  continuous  nor  so  ample  in 
June  fishing,  especially  after  the  middle  of  the 
month.  It  becomes  necessary  to  use  greater  care 
in  fishing,  and  to  be  more  exact  to  imitate  those  in- 
sects now  so  abundant  on  the  wing. 

In  June,  trout  take  a  noonday  rest  on  hot  days ; 
you  may  now  and  then  persuade  them,  but  it  is  not 
so  easy  with  bright  sky  and  low  water. 

After  the  first  week  in  June,  1915,  all  the  large 
green  drakes  had  vanished.  The  last  shad-fly  was 
gone  by  the  16th,  to  be  replaced  by  extremely  nu- 
merous drakes,  of  a  fairly  good  size  and  varied  in 
color  and  form. 

A  peculiar  feature  of  most  of  the  drakes  is  that 
the  two  fore  legs  are  dark — generally  the  same 
color  as  the  body — while  the  four  hind  legs  are  light 
in  tone,  mostly  pale  or  bright  yellow,  and  often  mot- 
tled in  brown.  Another  very  important  feature  is 
that  the  under  part  of  the  body  and  tail  is  invariably 
light — either  yellow,  green,  gray  or  pink — no  mat- 
ter how  dark  the  top  of  the  body  and  tail  may  be. 
This  feature  makes  an  exact  imitation  of  very  small 
flies  much  more  difficult — to  wind  the  lower  body 
lighter  than  the  top.  The  fly  of  commerce  makes 
no  effort  in  that  direction.  A  still  more  strange 
feature,  to  be  found  only  in  the  June  insects,  is  that 
nearly  all  of  the  drakes  have  vivid  green  eyes ;  none 
of  the  April  or  May  drakes  have  eyes  of  that  color. 

Four  of  the  most  beautiful  June  spinners  are 

53 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

here  pictured.  The  big  spinners  pictured  on  the 
page  of  May  flies  were  still  present  on  placid  wa- 
ters, but  these  four  were  playing  and  were  caught 
over  rapid  and  turbulent  water,  where  trout  were 
constantly  taking  them  under. 

Spinners  of  various  sizes  are  exceedingly  numer- 
ous in  June.  Some  go  spinning  round  and  round 
about  six  inches  above  the  surface  of  the  water  at 
astonishing  speed,  playfully  chasing  each  other  for 
sexual  purposes,  never  touching  the  water  till  they 
join,  when  together  they  drop  onto  the  surface,  float 
a  short  distance,  only  to  be  devoured  by  the  trout. 
Others  spin  in  wavy  motions,  constantly  dipping, 
floating  a  while,  then  rising  into  the  air — if  not 
taken  by  the  trout. 

Most  all  members  of  the  spinner  class  seem  to  be 
good  floaters,  and  are  very  swift  in  flight.  I  lost 
two  hours'  good  fishing  in  a  vain  effort  to  capture 
the  dark,  mottled  spinner,  though  many  specimens 
were  all  about  me,  as  I  stood  in  quite  deep,  rough 
water,  where  they  stay,  flying  low  all  the  time. 
They  are  not  to  be  captured  on  land. 

The  beautiful  golden  spinner — also  seen  in  May 
— is  now  all  over  the  river,  gracefully  dipping  at 
the  surface,  then  ascending  to  the  height  of  thirty 
feet  in  the  air,  where  it  floats  around  for  a  short 
time,  to  come  down  and  repeat  the  dip. 

Trout  fishing  in  June  can  be  very  good  and  also 
very  bad — according  to  conditions.     The  first  two 

54 


June   Insect  Chart 

Numbers  marked  with  asterisks  are  choice  flies  finely  tied  from  the  author's 
patterns  and  sold  by  his  agents 

No. 

Name 

Date  of  Rise 

Time  of 
Day 

Weather 

Family 

Order 

*i 

Female 
Green-Eye 

first  three  weeks 

day,  best  at 
evening 

warm 

Drake 

Ephemera 

*2 

Male 
Green-Eye 

first  three  weeks 

day, best  at 
evening 

warm 

Drake 

Ephemera 

3 

Broadtail 

early  to  late 

all  times 

cold,  windy 
days 

Drake 

Ephemera 

*4 

Greenback 

early  to  late 

evenings 

warm  days 

Drake 

Ephemera 

*5 

Yellow-Tip 

middle 

all  times 

any  time 

Drake 

Ephemera 

6 

Spot-Wing 

entire  month 

afternoons 
evenings 

warm 

Drake 

Ephemera 

*7 

Lemon-Tail 

entire  month 

afternoons 
evenings 

warm 

Drake 

Ephemera 

8 

Shiny-Tail 

early  to  middle 

all  times 

cold  and 
windy  days 

Drake 

Ephemera 

*9 

Chocolate 

entire  month 

late  after- 
noons, eve. 

warm  days 

Drake 

Ephemera 

10 

Orange-Black 

entire  month 

all  times 

any  time 

Drake 

Ephemera 

11 

Tawny  Drake 

entire  month 

all  times 

any  time 

Drake 

Ephemera 

12 

Blackhead 

middle  to  late 

afternoons 
evenings 

any  time 

Drake 

Ephemera 

13 

Big-Eye 

middle  to  late 

afternoons 
evenings 

any  time 

Drake 

Ephemera 

*14 

Pointed-Tail 

early  to  late 

all  times 

any  time 

Dun 

Tri- 

choptera 

Hymen- 
optera 

15 

Goldrim 

middle  to  late 

afternoons 

warm  days 

Four-Wing 

*16 

Emerald 

early  to  late 

afternoons 
evenings 

warm  days 

Stone-Fly 

Perlidae 

17 

Little  yellow 
Stone 

entire  month 

all  times 

warm  days 

Stone-Fly 

Perlidae 

18 

Black  Dun 

early  to  late 

all  times 

warm  days 

Dun 

Tri- 

choptera 

"19 

Hairy  Spinner 

middle  to  late 

evenings 
afternoons 

warm  days 

Spinner 

Diptera 

*20 

Goldbody 
Spinner 

early  to  late 

evenings 
afternoons 

warm  days 

Spinner 

Diptera 

21 

Tiger  Spinner 

early  to  late 

evenings 
afternoons 

warm  days 

Spinner 

Diptera 

22 

Whirling 
Spinner 

early  to  late 

evenings 
afternoons 

warm  days 

Spinner 

Diptera 

Chart  Key  to  Enable  Anglers  to  Fish  Intelligently 
According  to  Time,  Date  and  Rise 


\  SELECTION  OF  THE  BEST  TROUT  INSECTS  FOE  THE  MONTH  OF  Jl   M     PAINTED 
PROM   LIFE  BY  THE  AITHOR 


THE  BEST  TROUT  INSECTS  FOR  JUNE 

weeks  of  June,  in  1913,  1914,  and  1915,  had  three 
different  weather  conditions:  hot,  rain  and  wind, 
and  frost  and  cold.  It  is  these  unfavorable  condi- 
tions which  I  wish  to  overcome,  as  far  as  it  is  possi- 
ble, by  means  of  a  better  method  in  offering  the 
flies  and  making  them  more  true  to  the  natural  in- 
sect. Under  normal  conditions  the  pleasures  of 
angling  in  June  are  greater  than  in  May — though 
the  basket  may  not  be  so  full  of  fish.  Nature  is 
fully  clothed,  the  mountain  air  is  warm  but  crisp, 
and  a  thousand  delights  meet  the  eye  at  eveiy  turn 
— wild  strawberries  spatter  the  greensward  with 
red,  blossoms  are  everywhere,  and  tender  are  the 
young  green  leaves.  The  smaller  trout  ascend  the 
brooks,  and  the  big  ones  have  the  river  to  them- 
selves, stately  gliding  from  place  to  place,  selecting 
for  their  lunch  just  what  they  choose.  They  get 
drowsy  in  the  sultry  afternoons;  but  at  sunset, 
when  in  the  fading  light  the  river  is  alive  with  every 
kind  of  fly,  they  rise  up,  tempted  by  the  feast,  and 
gorge  and  gorge  throughout  the  night. 

Nos.  1  and  2.  Female  and  male  green-eye. 
These  are  the  largest  and  most  beautiful  drakes  of 
the  month;  in  fact,  of  any  month  in  the  season. 
The  female  is  heavier  in  the  body  and  more  highly 
colored  than  the  male.  Both  sexes  were  caught  the 
same  evening,  June  8th.  In  both,  the  wings  are 
exactly  like  those  of  the  green  drake,  a  soft  yellow- 
green.     Both  have  large,  brilliant  green  eyes,  and 

55 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

both  have  shoulders  of  brownish  pink.  They  are 
smaller  in  size  than  the  May  drake,  but  their  ac- 
tions in  flight  and  at  rest  are  quite  similar. 

The  green-eye  drakes  are  mostly  evening  flies, 
not  overabundant,  but  a  very  tempting  bait  by  rea- 
son of  the  repeated  dips  to  the  water,  where  they 
stay,  floating  beautifully  like  a  graceful  vessel  with 
yellow  sails,  too  long,  alas !  for  their  good.  How  I 
longed  for  an  imitation  of  this  lovely  insect ! 

From  sundown  till  dark  I  should  use  no  other 
fly  from  the  first  to  the  twentieth  of  the  month. 
Watch  for  a  rising  trout ;  fish  upstream,  if  possible, 
and  float  this  fly  down  a  runway  toward  you.  Then 
see  the  instant  flash  of  the  silvery  sides  of  a  big 
rainbow  or  the  red  spotted  belly  of  a  big  native 
trout. 

No.  3.  Broadtail.  So  named  from  its  thick 
tail,  which  tapers  down  from  the  same  thickness 
as  the  body.  A  curious  feature  of  this  drake  (and 
some  others)  is  that  the  two  fore  legs  are  raised 
quite  high  from  the  ground,  to  be  used  as  feelers. 
The  two  pairs  of  hind  legs  are  yellow;  while  the 
fore  legs  are  dark  brown,  like  the  body  and  tail,  the 
latter  having  nine  segment  markings  of  a  silvery 
gray.  The  entire  under  body  is  a  dark  yellowish- 
purple,  and  the  wings  a  purplish-slate  color. 

This  fine  insect  is  an  excellent  day  fly  on  cold  or 
wet,  windy  days.  It  was  captured  from  a  fairly 
plentiful  rise  on  a  damp,  cold  day,  and  is  therefore 

56 


THE  BEST  TROUT  INSECTS  FOR  JUNE 

most  useful  in  such  weather.  It  comes  out  quite 
late  at  evening,  and  may  be  used  at  that  time,  unless 
the  green-eye  is  upon  the  water  in  goodly  numbers. 

No.  4.  Greenback.  So  called  because  the  up- 
per body  is  green.  It  is  a  smaller  fly  than  the 
broadtail ;  but,  on  the  whole,  it  is  more  abundant  on 
fair  days  and  evenings.  It  can  be  used  on  warm 
evenings  throughout  the  month.  The  legs  are 
long,  and  the  body  stands  quite  high  for  so  small  an 
insect. 

No.  5.  Yellow-tip.  An  extremely  dainty  little 
insect,  quite  unusual  in  its  markings.  It  has  a  dark 
yellow  body,  and  a  pale  yellow  tail,  perfectly  white 
underneath,  the  end  tipped  with  bright  yellow,  from 
which  shoot  two  long  yellow  wisks.  The  eyes  shine 
out  in  vivid  green,  making  it  perhaps  the  most 
beautifully  marked  insect  of  this  class.  It  is  some- 
what tender,  and  hides  itself  for  protection  from 
the  cold;  but  it  soon  appears  when  the  sun  and 
warmth  come  back. 

The  artificial  can  be  used  at  any  time  all  through 
the  month. 

No.  6.  Spot-wing.  A  large,  handsome  insect, 
quite  plentiful  on  warm  afternoons  and  evenings. 
The  bluish,  mottled  wings  stand  high  up  on  the 
rich,  orange-colored  shoulders.  The  entire  body 
underneath  is  pale  greenish-brown.  The  legs  are 
yellow,  mottled  in  brown-black,  and  the  eyes  are  a 
vivid  green. 

57 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

The  artificial  can  be  used  throughout  the  month 
when  the  weather  is  warm,  and  at  evenings  under 
any  weather  conditions. 

No.  7.  Lemon-tail.  A  slight,  delicate  insect, 
standing  on  high,  mottled  legs.  This  insect  was 
caught  early  in  the  month  and  is  over  the  water  at 
all  times,  day  and  evening,  and  will  surely  prove  a 
good  small  fly. 

No.  8.  Shiny-tail.  So  named  from  the  shiny 
appearance  of  tail  and  body.  The  under  part  of 
the  entire  body  is  a  dirty  gray-yellow.  The  wings 
are  quite  dark  in  tone;  indeed,  the  insect  while  in 
flight  appears  much  darker  than  it  really  is.  It  is 
a  cold  weather  fly,  more  abundant  during  the  rain 
than  at  any  other  time. 

One  of  the  strange  features  in  flies  of  this  month, 
and,  in  lesser  degree,  those  of  the  other  months,  is 
that  light-winged  and  -bodied  insects  are  more  in 
evidence  on  the  water  in  warm  weather,  and  dark 
insects  are  usual  in  cold  weather  or  rain. 

No.  9.  Chocolate.  So  named  because  the  gen- 
eral tone  of  the  insect  is  that  color.  It  is  a  large 
and  very  fine  insect,  quite  abundant  late  afternoons 
and  evenings. 

I  should  place  the  artificial  of  this  insect  first  on 
the  list  of  June  flies  for  dark  days,  wet  or  cold,  be- 
cause of  its  size  and  plump  appearance  and  its  habit 
of  constantly  dipping  to  the  surface  after  a  few  mo- 
ments in  the  air.     This  insect,  along  with  the  green- 

58 


THE  BEST  TROUT  INSECTS  FOR  JUNE 

eye  (No.  1),  if  only  fairly  imitated  will  entice  trout 
day  and  evening  through  the  entire  month. 

No.  10.  Orange-black.  A  dark,  natty  little  in- 
sect, seen  all  through  the  day  rapidly  flitting  over 
the  surface,  now  and  then  to  dip,  but  always  re- 
maining quite  near  the  surface.  The  remarkable 
contrast  in  color — very  dark  brown  above  and 
bright  yellow  beneath,  fore  legs  dark  and  hind  legs 
light — makes  it  a  most  distinctive  object  when  seen 
on  the  water;  and  the  importance  of  having  the  un- 
der body  light  is  more  evident  in  this  than  in  any 
other  insect  I  know  that  is  at  all  plentiful. 

No.  11,  Tawny  drake.  A  little  insect  entirely 
of  one  color,  legs,  body  and  tail  being  a  dull  orange, 
except  that  the  under  body  is  pale. 

No.  12.  Blackhead.  A  small  fly  with  yellow  un- 
der body,  legs  and  wisks.  The  head  is  deep  black, 
in  striking  contrast  to  the  rest  of  the  insect,  which 
is  two  tones  of  yellow. 

No.  13.  Big-eye.  This  is  another  drake  with 
some  unusual  features.  The  two  fore  legs  are 
raised  high  toward  the  head,  which  seems  to  be  all 
eyes.  The  bodjr  is  dark  brown  and  the  wings  are 
a  dull  slate  color.  The  big-eye  has  no  wisks,  which 
makes  it  appear  very  bald  and  ungraceful  in  com- 
parison with  the  other  more  beautiful  species.  It 
is  fairly  abundant  all  through  the  month;  and  I 
picture  it  only  because  of  the  peculiar  character- 
istics so  different  from  the  rest. 

59 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

With  such  a  splendid  array  of  the  drake  class 
to  choose  from  (there  were  nine  others  captured) 
it  was  the  most  difficult  thing  to  select  those  best 
calculated  to  kill  trout.  Nearly  all  were  exceed- 
ingly plentiful  at  different  times  during  the  month. 
The  fish,  I  am  sure,  were  so  fully  gorged  that  any 
other  creature  but  a  fish  would  have  been  satisfied 
and  wanted  to  sleep  off  the  effects  of  fulness.  I 
cut  open  a  young  brown  trout,  fourteen  inches 
long,  and  found  it  to  be  stuffed  full  to  above  the 
gills  with  nothing  but  insects.  It  is  nearly  certain 
that  trout  in  June  refrain  from  fish  diet,  as  the 
insects  are  much  thicker  over  the  water  at  night 
than  in  the  day. 

The  two  duns  pictured  are  selected  from  seven 
specimens  I  caught  in  June ;  the  rest  being  so  simi- 
lar that  two  are  quite  representative. 

No.  14-.  Pointed-tail  dun.  This  is  the  most 
abundant  and  the  largest  size  of  any  of  this  class 
seen  in  June.  They  are  all  plentiful  throughout  the 
month,  in  all  kinds  of  weather,  both  day  and  even- 
ing. It  will  be  found  a  useful  fly  to  alternate  with 
the  drakes;  and  it  can  be  used  as  a  floating  dry 
fly,  or  by  the  wet  method  as  second  fly  with  either 
of  the  two  browns  as  end  fly. 

No.  18.  Black  dun.  One  of  a  number  of  speci- 
mens very  slightly  different  but  all  quite  abundant 
at  all  times  of  day  during  the  whole  month.     An 

60 


THE  BEST  TROUT  INSECTS  FOR  JUNE 

imitation  will  be  found  useful  at  times,  as  a  change 
to  a  small  dark  fly. 

No.  15.  Goldrim .  A  pretty  little  land  fly  that 
frequents  the  water  at  evening.  Its  shoulders,  tail, 
and  eyes  are  green.  The  wings  are  a  dull  gray 
edged  with  golden  yellow. 

No.  16.  Emerald.  In  form  and  mode  of  flight 
this  is  not  unlike  the  yellow  sally,  but  the  varied 
bright  colors  are  placed  differently.  The  head  and 
shoulders  of  this  insect  are  bright  emerald ;  the  tail 
brilliant  yellow;  the  upper  part  of  the  legs  green, 
the  lower  part  yellow.  Staring  and  standing  out 
of  the  small  green  head  are  two  deep  black  eyes, 
from  which  shoot  up  a  pair  of  horns  in  the  shape  of 
a  lyre. 

My  imitation  of  this  insect,  with  flat,  white  wings 
reaching  far  over  the  tail,  was  used  with  excellent 
results  in  July,  evidently  being  taken  by  the  fish 
for  the  light-colored  browns  so  numerous  in  that 
month. 

No.  17.  Little  yellow  stone.  This  little  fly 
is  exceedingly  bright  in  yellow  and  orange,  being 
no  doubt  a  newly  hatched  insect.  It  is  somewhat 
larger  than  the  emerald  and  the  yellow  sally,  to 
both  of  which  there  is  quite  a  resemblance  when  seen 
in  flight.  A  larger  specimen  of  this  same  insect 
was  pictured  in  May,  but  it  was  not  nearly  so  bril- 
liant  in  color.     Either  one   of  these   two   insects 

61 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

should  be  included  in  a  list  of  the  "best  flies"  for 
most  all  conditions. 

Of  sixteen  different  species  of  spinners  seen  in 
June  I  select  four  of  the  most  beautiful  and  abun- 
dant, and  those  which  I  think  will  prove  killers  with 
the  patterns  I  have  tied.  Many  species  were 
swarming  over  the  water  on  warm  days  and  even- 
ings, and  I  saw  trout  constantly  taking  them  under 
as  they  alighted  on  the  surface. 

No.  19.  Hairy  spinner.  This  is  quite  similar 
in  shape  and  size  to  one  pictured  in  May ;  the  body, 
wings,  and  horns  of  the  two  are  alike,  but  in  color 
this  is  more  brown,  and  the  head  is  less  than  half 
the  size  of  the  May  spinner.  The  body  and  tail 
of  this  species  are  quite  hairy,  as  is  also  the  first 
section  of  the  powerful  legs.  It  is  swift  in  flight, 
keeping  quite  low,  near  the  surface,  and  moving 
round  and  round  in  circles. 

No.  20.  Goldbody  spinner.  With  orange 
mottled  wings,  and  the  tail,  legs,  and  shoulders  a 
still  brighter  golden  orange.  The  black  eyes  seem 
jammed  down  into  the  body,  and  the  tip  of  the  tail 
is  black.  This  is  a  fine  insect,  but  veiy  hard  to 
capture  because  of  its  rapid  flight. 

No.  21.  Tiger  spinner.  This  is  a  rapid  flying 
and  somewhat  smaller  insect.  It  has  a  bright  yel- 
low under  body,  greenish  yellow  undertail,  and  is 
all  over  a  mixture  of  black  and  orange. 

No.  22.     Whirling  spinner.     An  insect  which 


THE  BEST  TROUT  INSECTS  FOR  JUNE 

flies  at  astonishing  speed  over  the  rougher  water, 
quite  near  the  surface,  ascending  and  descending, 
then  whirling  round.  The  wings  are  grayish, 
mottled  beautifully  in  brown.  The  head  and  tail 
are  greenish-brown,  with  a  band  of  gold  in  each 
segment.     The  under  body  and  tail  are  light  gray. 

If  we  make  a  comparison  of  June  insects  with 
May  and  July,  we  find  that  June  has  a  preponder- 
ance of  drakes  and  spinners,  and  May  of  two-wings, 
browns,  and  duns.  In  July  we  find  a  falling  off 
in  all  classes  of  the  larger  and  more  desirable  in- 
sects, worthy  of  or  useful  for  imitations.  This 
goes  to  show  that  the  trout  angler,  to  get  the  best 
results  in  fine  sport  and  full  bag  of  fish,  must  en- 
deavor to  be  on  the  streams  from  the  last  week  in 
April  to  the  first  week  in  July,  at  the  latest,  trust- 
ing to  favorable  weather  conditions  for  August 
fishing — that  is,  just  after  copious  rains,  or  cold 
spells. 

The  necessity  for  careful  fishing  and  attention 
to  the  right  kind  of  imitation  is  more  important  in 
June  than  in  May  or  July;  and  for  that  reason  a 
larger  selection  of  flies  from  the  June  page  is  ad- 
visable. I  selected  eight  flies  for  May,  and  I  think 
at  least  ten  for  June.  Four  drakes,  two  spinners, 
two  browns,  and  two  duns  will  suffice  for  any 
weather  or  time  of  day. 

It  will  often  happen  that  some  of  the  insects  pic- 

63 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

tured  in  May  continue  to  rise  in  large  numbers  dur- 
ing the  first  week,  or  longer,  in  June;  and  a  few 
of  the  May  flies  should  be  reserved  for  that  emer- 
gency. 

The  angler  must  not  imagine  that  the  great  simi- 
larity of  insects  warrants  the  use  of  one  for  some 
other  months.  This  difference  is  more  apparent  in 
the  under  bodies,  the  color  of  feet  and  the  length 
and  number  of  wisks.  Thus  it  is  that,  while  the  up- 
per body  and  color  of  wings  should  if  possible  be 
like  the  insect,  it  is  of  much  less  importance  than 
that  those  parts  of  the  insect  visible  to  the  trout  be 
right. 

In  June  the  fisherman  who  is  expert  in  casting 
the  dry  fly  has  the  greatest  advantage.  Both  the 
drakes  and  spinners  should  be  played  dry  on  the 
surface  as  much  as  possible. 

Remember,  the  first  or  second  cast  will  get  a  rise, 
if  a  rise  is  to  be  got  in  such  a  place;  if  no  rise  ap- 
pears, the  proper  thing  to  do  is  to  move  to  other 
localities.  I  do  not  believe  in  whipping  one  spot 
for  half  an  hour  in  vain  hope,  unless  a  change  of 
fly  is  tried.  In  other  words,  should  the  correct  fly 
not  result  in  getting  trout  to  respond,  nothing  more 
can  be  done  at  such  a  place  or  time.  Should  you 
observe  the  green-eye  on  the  wing  at  evening,  try 
it  for  a  few  casts.  If  no  response  instantly  occurs, 
put  on  a  small  drake.  If  the  trout  is  still  shy,  try 
a  spinner;  then  a  dun.     This  procedure  is  meant 

64 


THE  BEST  TROUT  INSECTS  FOR  JUNE 

for  those  adverse  conditions  so  often  experienced 
in  hot  weather:  scarcity  of  fish,  overfishing,  or  too 
much  natural  food,  with  the  trout  gorged  and  off 
feeding  on  the  surface  flies. 


65 


VII 
TYPICAL  INSECTS  OF  JULY 

As  we  proceed  toward  the  end  of  the  season  the 
wisdom  of  dividing  trout  insects  month  by  month 
becomes  more  and  more  apparent,  for  the  reason 
that  insects  seem  to  have  every  month  a  distinct 
difference  in  each  of  the  varied  classes.  The  very 
same  reason  why  trout  refuse  to  rise  while  the  hot 
sun  pours  its  rays  on  the  depleted  waters  also  makes 
aquatic  insects  scarce  in  July.  They  are  compara- 
tively cold-blooded:  they  do  not  like  the  sun.  I 
waded  six  miles  on  various  hot  days  during  the 
month  and  very  seldom  did  I  observe  insects  larger 
than  midges  till  the  sun  was  near  setting.  If  a 
sudden  change  to  gray,  colder  or  rainy  days  came, 
a  rise  of  flies  suddenly  appeared.  This,  of  course, 
is  the  normal  state  of  things;  but  July  of  1915  was 
certainly  abnormal,  as  were  June,  May  and  April, 
in  weather  conditions. 

But  these  chapters  are  compiled  partly  from  my 
notes  and  sketches  running  back  some  years  to  the 
time  when  I  began  the  study  of  these  insects.  The 
observations  of  a  single  season  would  not  suffice  to 

66 


TYPICAL  INSECTS  OF  JULY 

cover  the  subject  adequately  in  so  erratic  a  climate 
as  ours.  Though,  for  that  matter,  nature  equalizes 
things;  and  it  cannot  be  doubted  that  these  same 
insects  have  for  centuries  bred  and  lived  on  the  same 
streams  where  we  see  them  to-day,  with  varying 
abundance  according  to  climatic  conditions. 

Old  residents  of  the  village  of  Roscoe,  N.  Y., 
tell  me  they  could  go  to  any  part  of  the  river 
(Beaverkill)  forty  years  ago  and  fish  in  the  most 
primitive  way  with  worms,  at  any  part  of  the  sea- 
son, and  capture  a  large  basket  of  fine  native  spec- 
kled trout  in  less  than  an  hour.  This  is  sure  proof 
that  natural  insects  were  exceedingly  abundant  to 
keep  the  fish  in  good  condition  and  so  plentiful. 

I  can  recall  no  July  for  many  years  with  so  much 
rainfall  as  that  of  the  abnormal  1915  in  the  first 
three  weeks  of  the  month ;  for  that  reason  the  water 
was  fairly  cold  and  comparatively  high  and  clear 
all  the  time.  Sport  was  still  unusually  excellent 
in  the  daytime,  both  in  the  way  trout  rose  to  the 
lures  offered  and  in  the  splendid  gameness  and  am- 
ple size  of  the  fish,  even  though  well  gorged  with 
the  fatness  of  June.  I  hooked  more,  and  much 
larger-sized,  trout  than  I  ever  remember. 

Perhaps  I  may  be  considered  impertinent  to  as- 
cribe this  to  the  use  of  my  own  tied  flies.  I  shall 
have  much  better  confidence  after  a  thorough  test; 
at  least  it  will  be  more  conclusive  after  using  the 
right  fly  for  the  right  month  under  more  normal 

67 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

climatic  conditions  in  future  seasons.  I  fully  re- 
alize it  to  be  a  bold  assertion  to  infer,  even,  that 
everybody  is  using  indifferent  flies.  Yet,  again  I 
repeat,  if  we  copy  nature,  we  must  be  right.  The 
very  reason  why  I  undertake  a  most  difficult  work 
is  to  induce  anglers  to  turn  back  to  nature,  to  fact 
instead  of  fiction,  to  the  living  insect  instead  of  the 
fancy  fly.  Had  my  own  tied  flies  not  been  suc- 
cessful in  rising  trout  up  to  my  usual  average  I 
should  be  content  to  drop  further  effort  and  ac- 
cept present  conditions  in  the  use  of  commercial 
flies  now  on  the  market. 

On  the  other  hand,  I  am  more  than  ever  con- 
vinced that  in  the  last  decade  there  has  been  a  retro- 
grade, or  backward  movement  instead  of  forward, 
in  the  making  of  flies  alluring  to  trout.  In  all  the 
best  one  hundred  artificial  flies  pictured  in  Mr.  Hal- 
ford's  book,  not  a  single  one  of  them  even  faintly 
imitates  any  insect  found  on  American  streams. 
He  frankly  states  that  many  of  them  are  fancy  flies, 
not  intended  to  be  copies  from  nature. 

The  most  notable  fact  concerning  the  insects  of 
July  is  the  extraordinary  abundance  and  variety 
of  very  small  specimens  of  all  three  kinds,  duns, 
drakes,  and  spinners.  Sometimes  the  surface  is 
alive  with  a  moving  mass  of  very  small  insects; 
then,  in  places,  clouds  of  tiny  mosquito-like  insects 
are  just  as  thick.     They  are,  of  course,  no  service 

68 


. 


July  Insect  Chart 

Numbers  marked  with  asterisks  are  choice  flies  finely  tied  from  the  author's 
patter ti s  and  sold  by  his  agents 

No. 

Name 

Date  of  Rise 

Time  of 
Day 

Weather 

Family 

Order 

*  1 

Golden 
Drake 

early  to  late 

evenings 

and 
dull  days 

warm 
afternoons 

Drake 

Ephe- 
mera 

*  2 

Pinktail 
Drake 

middle  to  end 

evenings 

and 
du  -I  days 

warm 
afternoons 

Drake 

Ephe- 
mera 

3 

Silver-Gray 

early  to  late 

evenings 

warm 
evenings 

Drake 

Ephe- 
mera 

*  4 

Spot-Tail 

early  to  late 

evenings 

warm 

evenings 

Drake 

Ephe- 
mera 

5 

Little  Or- 
ange Drake 

early 

evenings 

warm  days 

Drake 

Ephe- 
mera 

*  6 

Olive  Drake 

early  to  late 

after- 
noons 

warm  days 

Drake 

Ephe- 
mera 

*  7 

Orange 
Stone 

early 

after- 
noons 

warm  days 

Stone -fly 

Perlidae 

8 

Brown- 
Stone 

early 

evenings 

warm  days 

Stone -fly 

Perlidae 

*  9 

Redhead 
Gnat 

early  to  late 

all  day 

dull  days 

Two- 
wing 

Diptera 

*10 

White 
Miller 

early 

dull  days 

and 
evenings 

dull  days 

Moth 

Lepi- 
doptera 

11 

Tiger 

Beetle 

early 

all  day 

any  time 

Beetle 

Colesp- 
tera 

Plum  e 
Spinner 

early 

all  day 

warm 
all  day 

Spinner 

Diptera 

*13 
14 

Gold  en- 
Spinner 

early 

all  day 

warm 
all  day 

Spinner 

Diptera 

Green-Wing 
Done 

late 

evenings 

wet  days 

Stone  -fly 

Perlidae 

15 

Orange 

Spinner 

early  to  late 

all  day 

wet  days 

Spinner 

Diptera 

16 

Brown  Bot- 
tle Fly 

early  to  late 

all  day 

warm  days 

Two- 
wing 

Diptera 

*17 

Orange 
Miller 

early 

evenings 

and 
dull  days 

dull  days 

Moth 

Lepi- 
doptera 

Chart  Key  to  Enable  Anglers  to  Fish  Intelligently 
According  to  Time,  Date  and  Rise 


/ 


5 


-%»s 


~%~S 


* 


11 


^ 


/ 


.»*■ 


A12 


;  \ 


AM 


15 


,-     -' 


16 


\ 


A  SELECTION  0 


"HE  HI  ST  TROUT  INSECTS  FOE  THE  MONTH  OF  JULY   PAINTED 
I'll'  >\I   LIFE  BY  THE  AUTHOR 


TYPICAL  INSECTS  OF  JULY 

to  our  purpose,  yet  no  doubt  they  play  an  impor- 
tant part  in  the  trout's  menu. 

Under  the  usual  normal  conditions  in  July,  most 
flies  are  on  the  stream  from  just  after  sunrise,  while 
the  morning  mists  yet  hide  the  sun,  till  about  ten 
or  eleven  o'clock.  Quit  fishing  then,  and  resume 
from  six  till  dusk — by  far  the  best  sport  of  the  day, 
because  flies  are  most  plentiful  and  trout  visibly 
feed  on  them. 

What  I  have  named  the  red  gnat  is  the  most 
abundant  day  fly  in  any  weather  during  July ;  and 
trout  were  feeding  on  it.  Also  many  small  flat- 
wing  duns  of  a  similar  size  were  on  the  rise.  So, 
too,  were  many  tiny  drakes  and  spinners,  all  in  a 
mixed  mass,  flying  over  the  water  at  every  turn 
after  sundown. 

No.  1.  Golden  drake.  This  I  would  see  sailing 
majestically  along,  a  large,  beautiful,  solitary  in- 
sect, flying  sometimes  low,  with  a  dip,  to  again  rise 
high  over  the  water.  Because  of  its  similar  actions 
the  golden  drake  might  be  termed  the  May  fly  of 
July,  though  it  is  not  half  so  abundant  as  the  other 
species  that  appears  in  May.  It  is  more  plentiful 
after  sundown ;  and  from  its  very  light  lemon  color 
I  can  distinguish  it  flying  after  dark,  and  so  I  as- 
sume that  it  continues  in  flight  throughout  the 
night. 

Though  very  similar  to  the  green-eye  of  June, 

69 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

a  careful  inspection  will  show  that  the  distribution 
of  color  is  quite  different  on  the  upper  part  of  the 
body;  viewed  from  below  the  only  difference  be- 
tween the  male  green-eye  and  the  golden  drake  is 
that  the  former  has  mottled  legs  and  vivid  green 
eyes. 

The  artificial  imitation  can  be  used  all  through 
the  month,  day  or  evening;  if  day,  it  must  be  cloudy, 
without  sun.  A  glance  at  the  colored  representation 
will  show  what  a  superbly  made  creature  it  is  in 
form  and  color.  Can  any  angler  name  a  single 
fancy  fly  one-half  so  exquisitely  lovely  from  any 
or  every  standpoint? 

No.  2.  Pinktail.  The  next  important  July  in- 
sect is  the  pretty  pinktail,  with  three  sections  of  the 
tail  tip  a  pale  cream  white,  the  rest  a  bright  pink 
on  top  and  under.  The  eyes  are  black,  with  spots 
of  the  same  color  on  the  yellow  legs  and  the  yellow- 
ish wings. 

It  must  be  noticed  that  these  two  flies,  so  similar 
to  those  of  June,  have  no  green  eyes.  The  eyes  are 
light  in  color,  with  black  in  the  center. 

No.  S.  Silver-gray.  This  insect  is  very  plenti- 
ful at  sunset,  but  is  not  out  in  the  daytime.  It  has 
large,  round  eyes,  which  stand  out  and  up  from  the 
shoulders;  and  a  tail  hanging  down,  with  the  end 
bent  up  in  a  sudden  curve. 

No.  4>  Spot-tail.  Its  eyes  are  large  and 
brown;  and  its  under  body  and  its  tail  are  colored 


TYPICAL  INSECTS  OF  JULY 

a  pale  blue,  spotted  in  black.  This  is  another  of 
the  small-sized  drakes  seen  only  after  sunset. 

Xo.  5,  Little  orange  drake.  Like  many  other 
small  specimens,  it  is  very  plentiful.  Though  quite 
small,  its  bright  color  and  yellow  under  body  make 
it  conspicuous. 

No.  6.  Olive  drake.  The  thorax  of  this  little 
insect,  and  the  top  of  its  tail  and  wisks  are  a  dark 
olive  color.  This  also  is  an  evening  fly;  and  com- 
pletes a  round  half-dozen  selected  very  carefully 
from  thirteen  species,  more  or  less  alike  in  size, 
color,  and  shape,  yet  different  in  one  or  more  fea- 
tures. 

As  before  stated,  these  drakes  are  all  evening 
flies  except  on  dark  or  rainy  days.  This  does  not 
mean  that  the  artificial  must  not  be  tried.  I  think 
it  quite  possible  that,  late  in  the  season,  it  is  an  ex- 
cellent plan  to  try  some  of  the  best  evening  flies  in 
the  daytime.  I  have  succeeded  on  numerous  occa- 
sions to  rouse  up  a  fish  from  its  noonday  rest  by  a 
tempting  evening  fly. 

Nos.  7  and  8.  Orange  stone  and  brown  stone. 
These  are  two  stone-flies,  slightly  different  from 
those  seen  in  previous  months ;  but  the  under  bodies 
are  so  much  alike  as  to  render  the  little  difference  in 
shape  not  important  enough  to  make  an  artificial 
copy.  It  will  be  noticed  that  the  brown  stone  is 
considerably  larger  in  size  than  others  seen  before. 
In  August  they  are  larger  still. 

71 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

No.  9.  Redhead  gnat.  Captured  early  in  the 
month,  yet  not  seen  in  June,  this  is  a  good  all-round 
fly  for  hot  days,  when  few  if  any  others  are  about. 
It  is  slow  in  flight,  and  the  deep  blackness  of  its 
body  makes  it  very  conspicuous  on  water  or  on 
land — it  is  seen  in  both  places  in  the  daytime.  Ex- 
cept right  under  the  mouth,  which  is  red,  the  under 
body  is  black;  the  wings  are  slightly  gray-black; 
and  on  top  of  the  head,  encircled  in  black,  is  a  bril- 
liant red  patch. 

For  some  days  anglers  on  the  stream  were  asking 
me  for  a  black  gnat  or  redtag,  proof  positive  they 
observed  trout  feeding  on  this  little  black  insect. 
I  should  place  it  in  the  forefront  for  July  days,  and 
I  have  taken  much  pains  to  make  a  good  imitation. 
When  in  flight  it  is  singularly  like  the  wingless 
hackle  gnat  made  in  England.  It  is  not  a  floater ; 
so  I  think  it  will  be  more  effective  as  a  wet  fly. 

Though  aquatic  insects  of  July  are  so  scarce, 
compared  with  May  and  June,  the  land  is  swarm- 
ing with  butterflies  of  every  size  and  color.  They 
cross  and  recross  the  rivers;  grasshoppers  in  myri- 
ads skip  on  before  you  in  passing  through  a 
meadow ;  numberless  are  the  night  moths  that  begin 
to  wing  their  flight  as  the  sun  goes  down ;  especially 
conspicuous  are  the  white  and  yellow  millers  as  they 
flick  over  the  water  time  and  time  again. 

No.  10.     White  miller.     On  dark  days,  and  even 


TYPICAL  INSECTS  OF  JULY 

very  rainy  days,  this  insect  is  fairly  plentiful  in  the 
daytime.  Its  body  is  quite  fleshy,  and  though  en- 
cumbered with  thick,  hairy  legs  of  snowy  white- 
ness, it  often  dips  on  the  surface  and  seems  to  be 
able  to  recover  and  rise  again  in  flight  with  ap- 
parent ease.  Though  I  have  never  seen  it  float  any 
distance,  its  attitude  while  on  the  surface  for  a 
short  time,  with  wings  close  together,  is  quite  sim- 
ilar to  the  drakes.  Under  a  magnifying  glass  it 
is  a  marvelously  beautiful  insect,  with  golden  fern- 
like horns,  and  big  green  eyes  embedded  in  the 
whitest  silken  floss. 

The  white  miller,  as  made,  is  absurd.  No  won- 
der one  never  gets  a  rise  on  a  fly  of  that  sort. 

No.  11.  Tiger  beetle.  This  black  and  yellow 
beetle  I  caught  in  various  sizes,  with  deep  yellow 
and  brown  body  and  legs.  The  one  pictured  is 
deep  blue-black  all  over,  with  markings  in  bright 
lemon  yellow,  except  that  the  end  sections  of  all 
legs  are  bright  brown. 

The  big  spinner,  so  plentiful  in  June,  were  all 
gone,  and  were  replaced  with  many  varieties  of 
small  ones.  Some,  indeed,  were  exactly  like  June 
spinners,  only  considerably  smaller  in  size.  They 
were  mixing  freely  with  the  rise  of  small  duns  or 
drakes,  or  both. 

No.  12.  Plume  spinner.  This  little  spinner  is 
very  abundant,  taking  the  place  in  trout  diet  of  the 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

same  sized  drakes  and  duns,  now  absent  in  the  day- 
time. It  is  an  excellent  floater  and  rarely  leaves 
the  water's  surface,  where  it  skims  around  within  an 
inch  of  the  water.  I  never  saw  it  ascend  into  the 
air.  It  has  a  pair  of  grayish-brown  wings,  and  the 
body  is  beautifully  marked  in  white,  black,  and 
brown. 

No.  13.  Golden  spinner.  A  still  smaller  insect, 
which  I  call  the  small  golden  spinner,  has  a  general 
orange  tone  all  over,  the  thorax  being  brighter  than 
the  tail.  The  legs  are  part  black,  part  orange.  The 
black  head  hangs  away  from  the  body. 

No.  14'  Green-wing.  A  very  small,  orange- 
colored  stone-fly,  with  legs  and  horns  brown  and 
the  wings  a  yellow-green.  This  is  the  smallest 
stone-fly  observed  during  the  season,  as  the  brown 
stone  (No.  8)  is  the  largest. 

No.  15.  Orange  spinner.  The  very  small 
orange  spinner  is  a  light,  delicate  insect  that  flies 
round  in  almost  every  place  during  the  daytime, 
then  in  company  with  the  very  small  drakes  at  eve- 
ning. Its  general  tone  is  orange,  with  a  gray  tail, 
orange-brown  above. 

No.  16.  Brownbottle  fly.  This  small  two- wing 
fly  is  swift  in  movement,  but  stays  mostly  at  the 
side  of  the  stream.  I  captured  many  in  the  net 
along  with  other  insects  that  varied  considerably  in 
size,  some  larger,  some  smaller  than  the  specimen 
shown.     The  wings  are  a  bluish  cast;  the  head  and 

74 


TYPICAL  INSECTS  OF  JULY 

eyes  are  black,  with  a  yellow  patch  in  front;  the 
thorax  is  brown ;  and  the  tail  has  bars  of  brown  on 
very  bright  orange. 

No.  17.  Orange  miller.  A  similar-shaped  mil- 
ler, tinted  a  pale  ochre,  which  I  have  tied,  is  seen 
quite  as  often  as  the  white  one,  and  both  should  be 
very  effective  on  dark  days  and  nights. 

The  brownbottle  is  placed  on  the  page  more  as 
an  example  of  that  species  of  two-wing  flies  that 
is  most  abundant,  and  it  makes  a  pretty  artificial 
that  might  possibly  be  effective  in  day  fishing 
where  drakes  and  browns  fail — though  I  have  my 
doubts. 

While  the  page  of  July  insects  is  not  by  any 
means  so  good  a  selection  as  those  of  May  and 
June,  there  are  at  least  six  kinds  that  will  surely 
be  successful  in  luring  trout  in  July:  Nos.  1,  2,  7, 
9,  10,  and  12  are  the  very  best  flies  of  the  month. 
No.  5,  the  small  orange  drake,  should  be  held  in 
reserve  as  a  small  fly. 

It  must  be  remembered  that  every  one  on  the 
page  for  each  month  is  good,  and  has  been  most 
carefully  selected.  One  after  the  other  has  been 
withdrawn,  till  those  left  and  pictured  represent  as 
nearly  as  possible  a  perfect  selection  for  both  day 
and  evening,  and  any  condition  of  weather  that  may 
happen  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of  each 
month.     Should  it  occur — and  it  often  does — that 

75 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

an  insect,  pictured  for  the  month  previous,  is  in 
flight,  it  is  because  the  rise  of  that  particular  insect 
continues  over  a  month ;  indeed,  some  spring  insects 
again  have  a  rise  in  the  fall. 


76 


VIII 

SOME  TROUT  INSECTS  FOR  AUGUST 

In  most  States  of  the  temperate  zone  the  trout 
season  closes  at  the  end  of  August.  Some  States 
have  the  close  season  at  the  end  of  July;  in  Con- 
necticut it  closes  at  the  end  of  June.  In  all  States 
the  tendency  is  toward  shortening  instead  of  pro- 
longing the  season.  This  is  a  wise  procedure,  con- 
sidering that  the  number  of  fishermen  is  more  likely 
to  grow  than  lessen. 

I  deem  it  best,  therefore,  to  conclude  with  a  list 
of  flies  for  August,  as  it  would  serve  no  good  pur- 
pose to  include  a  page  for  September;  though  I 
believe  that  aquatic  insects  increase  rather  than  di- 
minish as  the  fall  commences  and  hot  weather 
abates. 

In  the  temperate  zone  September  finds  most  of 
the  large  female  trout  big  with  spawn,  lying  con- 
gregated at  the  mouths  of  brooks  and  springs  of 
cold  water,  waiting  for  floods  to  carry  them  up  to 
the  breeding  places.  They  are  then  in  poor  condi- 
tion and  unfortunately  very  easy  to  capture,  and 
they  are  taken  too  often  by  unscrupulous  natives, 

77 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

on  worms  or  else  by  the  baser  method  of  driving 
them  to  shallow  water  and  kicking  or  scooping  them 
out  on  dry  land  without  the  aid  of  tackle  or  bait. 

Many  of  the  less  important  July  insects  continue 
to  rise  through  the  first  half  of  August.  Stone- 
flies  were  rising  every  day  in  large  numbers,  and 
they  increased  in  size.  The  first  new  typical  speci- 
men of  drake,  which  I  name  the  black  dose,  ap- 
peared on  the  15th.  General  conditions  were  nor- 
mal— hot,  sultry  days,  with  frequent  local  thunder 
showers  just  after  sunset,  generally  at  precisely  the 
time  insects  began  to  rise.  Native  anglers  believe 
that  lightning  puts  down  trout  from  feeding.  I 
experienced  this  difficulty  on  three  occasions  during 
August.  Flies  continued  to  rise  after  the  rain- 
storm passed  by,  but  the  trout  would  not  respond  to 
my  lures,  though  I  fished  till  dark. 

It  was  rare,  indeed,  to  find  any  insects  worth 
recording  during  the  daytime.  One  conspicuous 
exception  was  a  remarkable  rise  and  heavy  flight 
of  the  greentail  ant,  which  I  shall  describe  more 
fully  in  its  proper  place. 

It  would  frequently  happen  that  a  fairly  good 
rise  of  insects  appeared  on  wet  days,  earlier  in  the 
season;  but  not  so  in  August.  It  made  no  differ- 
ence what  the  weather  was,  insects  rarely  appeared 
in  flight  till  nearly  dusk;  sometimes  it  was  pitch 
dark,  so  that  I  could  not  see  to  capture  them. 

Therefore,  August  is  not  a  good  month  for  in- 

78 


SOME  TROUT  INSECTS  FOR  AUGUST 

sects  and  consequently  it  is  poor  for  fly-fishing,  even 
in  the  higher  altitudes.  Overgorged  with  an  abun- 
dance of  food,  the  water's  temperature  so  warm  in 
shallow  places  as  to  drive  the  fish  to  the  bottom  of 
deep  pools,  in  addition  the  summer's  constant 
whipping  over  the  water  by  many  anglers,  what  big 
trout  are  left  have  been  hooked  hundreds  of  times, 
perhaps  have  been  played  time  and  time  again,  only 
to  get  free. 

It  is  no  wonder  that  trout  are  then  extremely 
wise  and  cautious.  Very  few  trout  did  I  land  dur- 
ing August.  They  would  rise  to  the  fly  once;  but 
many  a  time  that  first  rise  was  a  miss,  and  no 
amount  of  coaxing  with  a  change  of  flies  would  in- 
duce them  to  rise  a  second  time.  They  would  come 
up  to  examine  the  artificial,  then  go  back  to  deep 
water.  They  knew  the  artificial  and  let  it  alone. 
The  only  time  when  they  got  hooked  and  I  landed 
them  was  between  dusk  and  dark,  and  that  was  the 
only  time  I  saw  them  feeding  on  insects. 

It  is  noticeable  that  drakes  predominate  in  this 
month,  as  they  do  in  July,  though  they  are  smaller 
in  size — with  the  exception  of  the  black  dose.  They 
are  very  similar  in  form  and  color  to  the  six  exam- 
ples pictured  for  July.  I  caught  no  browns  or 
stone-flies,  but  saw  at  evening  isolated  specimens 
of  a  large  size  flying  high  in  the  air  over  the  water. 
I  saw  only  one  species  of  the  dun  class  and  that  was 
quite    plentiful.     No     large    spinners    appeared, 

79 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

though  there  were  present  all  the  time  small  ones 
a  little  larger  than  mosquitoes.  The  most  plentiful 
insects  in  the  daytime  were  fair-sized  gnats  and 
two-wing  flies. 

No.  1.  Black  dose.  This  began  its  rise  on  a 
rainy  day,  the  15th,  and  continued  thick  for  several 
days.  The  half-submerged  stones  at  the  water's 
edge  were  fairly  covered  with  the  flat  larvae  of  this 
insect;  some  creeping  up  the  stones,  others  just 
splitting  open  with  the  insect  emerging  from  the 
case.  The  larva  is  a  deep,  shiny  black,  with  two 
white  marks  over  the  head.  The  insect  comes  out 
with  wings  fully  matured.  I  picked  out  a  number 
by  the  wings  while  the  larva  skin  was  still  attached 
to  the  tail  of  the  fly.  These  insects  fly  slowly 
along,  going  up  high  over  the  water,  but  they  are 
easily  captured  in  taking  the  first  flight.  They  do 
not  appear  on  bright,  hot  days  till  quite  late  at 
evening ;  on  wet  days  they  are  thick  on  the  water. 

No.  2.  Small  pinktail.  Somewhat  similar  to 
the  much  larger  specimen  of  that  name  shown  in 
July.  The  wings  of  this  insect,  however,  are 
brighter  yellow,  and  underneath  the  body  the  first 
three  and  last  three  sections  are  pale  lemon-yellow, 
the  middle  three  sections  being  pink  on  top  and  be- 
low. There  is  a  black  spot  in  the  middle  of  the  eye. 
Small  pinktails  are  quite  abundant,  especially  at 
evenings,  and  sometimes  come  out  late  afternoons. 

No.  3.     Green-ribbed  drake.     A  very  pretty  in- 

80 


August  Insect  Chart 

Numbers  marked  with  asterisks  are  choice  flics  finely  tied  from  the  author's 

patterns  and  sotd  by  his  agents 

No. 

Name 

Date  of  Rise 

Time  of 
Day 

Weather 

Family 

Order 

*  1 

Black  Dose 
Drake 

middle  to  late 

evenings 

wet  days 

Drake 

Ephe- 
mera 

*  2 

Small  Pink 
Tail 

middle  to  late 

evenings 

warm 
afternoons 

Drake 

Ephe- 
mera 

3 

Green-Rib- 
bed Drake 

early  to  late 

late  af- 
ternoons 

wet  days 

Drake 

Ephe- 
mera 

4 

Brown  Tip 

early 

evenings 

wet  days 

Drake 

Ephe- 
mera 

5 

Speckled 
Orange 

late 

evenings 

warm 
evenings 

Drake 

Ephe- 
mera 

6 

Spotted 
Drake 

early  to  late 

all  day 

warm  days 

Drake 

Ephe- 
mera 

7 

August 

Dun 

late 

after- 
noons 

dull  and 
warm 

Dun 

Tri- 
choptera 

*  8 

Sage-Green 
Ant 

late 

all  day 

warm 

Ant 

Hyrae- 
noptera 

*  9 

Brown  Buzz 

late  and  middle 

day  only 

warm 

Four 
Wing  Fly 

Hyme- 
noptera 

10 

Gray  Buzz 

late  and  middle 

day  only 

warm 

Four 
Wing  Fly 

Hyme- 
noptera 

11 

Black 
Spinner 

late  and  middle 

day  only 

warm 

Four 
Wing  Fly 

Hyme- 
noptera 

*12a 

Bent  Gnat 

late  and  middle 

day  only 

warm 

Two 

Wing  Fly 

Hyme- 
noptera 

*12b 

Brown  Gnat 

early  to  late 

day  and 
evening 

hot  days 

Two 
Wing  Fly 

Diptera 

13 

Green 
Spinner 

early  to  late 

day  and 
evening 

hot  days 

Spinner 

Diptera 

14 

Fluffy 
Spinner 

middle  to  late 

evenings 

warm  days 

Spinner 

Diptera 

15 

Gray  Hair 
Caterpillar 

early 

all  day 

warm  days 

Cater- 
pillar 

Diptera 

Inasmuch    as   August    insects    are   few   and   of  less   importance    and  the 
trout  season  is  closed  in  most  of  the  states,  a  colored  plate  is  unnecessary 
when  color  details  are  fully  described  in  the  following  chapter. 

The  lower  section  contains  artificial  imitations  tied  by  the  author.    Though 
fairly  representing  the  insects  inform  and  color,  they  are  very  poor  indeed  as 
compared  with  the  beautiful   flies  of   the  four   preceding   months,    tied  by 
professional  fly  makers  for  commercial  use. 

Chart  Key  to  Enable  Anglers  to  Fish  Intelligently 
According  to  Time,  Date  and  Rise 


A   SELECTION   OF   THE    BEST   TROUT   INSECTS   FOR   THE    MONTH    OP    AUGUST   AND 
CORRESPONDING    ARTIFICIAL    FLIES   TIED    BY   THE    AITHOR 


SOME  TROUT  INSECTS  FOR  AUGUST 

sect,  with  the  tail  sections  ribbed  in  a  greenish 
brown.  This  insect  is  out  in  late  afternoons  on  dull 
or  rainy  days;  on  warm  days  it  appears  quite  late, 
just  before  dark. 

No.  4-  Brown  tip.  A  small,  beautiful  insect, 
with  rich  brown  shoulders,  and  a  patch  of  the  same 
color  at  the  top  and  end  of  the  tail,  the  middle  sec- 
tions being  ribbed  on  a  greenish  ground.  The 
wisks  are  very  long  and  are  a  pale  yellow  color,  like 
the  legs.  This  insect  is  fairly  plentiful,  and  is  quick 
in  flight ;  though  I  captured  many  specimens  in  the 
net  during  the  rain.  A  very  unusual  feature  is  that 
they  vary  considerably  in  size. 

No.  5.  Speckled  orange  drake.  Another  ex- 
tremely beautiful  insect,  with  metallic  wings  spec- 
kled in  brown.  This  drake  was  caught  as  late  as 
the  17th,  on  a  cloudy  day,  and  I  saw  it  evenings 
only  in  warm  weather. 

No.  6.  Little  spotted  drake.  Though  quite 
small  its  body  is  plump.  It  flies  around  all  day  in 
wavy  motions  over  the  water,  dipping  at  the  surface 
quite  frequently.  The  general  tone  of  the  body 
and  tail  is  orange,  with  bright  yellow  underneath. 

No,  7.  August  dun.  This  insect,  mottled  in 
brown  and  blue,  is  the  only  dun  of  any  fair  size  ob- 
served during  this  month.  It  is  fairly  plentiful  in 
the  afternoons  and  evenings  during  the  latter  part 
of  the  month. 

No.  8.     Sage-green  ant.     So  called  because  the 

81 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

general  tone  of  the  body  and  wings  is  a  dull  sage- 
green.  Unlike  the  black  ant  of  spring,  this  insect 
has  a  fat,  shiny  body  of  four  sections ;  the  shoulders 
and  head  being  a  little  blacker  in  tone,  and  the  legs 
a  bright  brown. 

I  consider  this  insect  the  most  important  of  the 
month  for  the  reason  that  on  the  22nd  day  occurred 
an  extraordinary  rise:  the  surface  of  the  water 
swarmed  with  them  from  four  in  the  afternoon  till 
dark,  and  during  that  time  the  water  fairly  bubbled 
with  the  varied  fishes  feeding  on  them.  Trout, 
chub,  dace,  and  bass  rose  to  the  surface  everywhere 
in  such  numbers  as  I  had  not  seen  since  the  shad 
rise  in  May.  For  three  days  following,  the  rise 
continued  in  diminishing  numbers,  and  the  fish  con- 
tinued to  feed  on  them.  This  rise  was  not  confined 
to  a  limited  area  of  a  few  hundred  feet,  for  I  heard 
that  it  extended  over  six  miles. 

This  ant  is  a  very  pretty  insect,  both  flying  and 
at  rest.  In  flight  it  is  similar  in  appearance  to  the 
cowdung;  not  so  swift,  but  just  a  steady  round  and 
round  motion,  most  always  over  or  near  the  water. 

I  captured  many  specimens  which  varied  slightly 
in  size.  Some  were  attached  to  a  smaller  winged 
ant,  which  I  imagine  to  be  the  opposite  sex. 

The  shape  and  the  color  of  this  ant  were  so  dif- 
ferent from  any  artificial  I  had  with  me  that  I  failed 
to  get  a  rise  to  the  flies  offered.  That  is  usually  the 
case  when  very  heavy  flights  occur.     Except  when 


SOME  TROUT  INSECTS  FOR  AUGUST 

the  artificial  is  floated  on  the  surface  down  a  run- 
way where  the  water  is  slightly  rough,  there  is  little 
or  no  chance. 

Of  twelve  specimens  caught  in  my  net  on  the 
wing,  ten  escaped  through  the  wire  mess  of  the  cage 
while  I  trudged  along  home  with  my  prize — such  a 
thing  no  other  insect  ever  had  sense  enough  to  do.  I 
went  out  again  at  dusk  to  capture  a  new  supply, 
and  these  I  covered  over  carefully  till  morning. 
When  I  got  up  I  found  all  had  cast  their  wings. 
Not  to  be  outdone  by  these  elusive  little  devils,  I 
took  sketching  materials  and  pinned  them  fast  while 
I  made  the  sketches  at  the  water's  side. 

This  ant  is  a  fairly  good  floater,  and  I  shall  imi- 
tate it  with  wings  outstretched,  also  with  wings  ly- 
ing flat  over  the  body,  both  attitudes  it  assumes  on 
the  surface. 

I  consider  myself  very  fortunate  to  have  wit- 
nessed this  rise,  because  it  is,  in  a  measure,  a  new 
discovery.  I  did  not  see  a  rise  of  the  red  ant,  which 
is  slightly  smaller  than  the  black  ant ;  though  neither 
of  them  by  comparison  is  so  good  for  imitation.  I 
shall  make  an  effort  another  season  to  be  on  the 
river  at  the  right  time  of  the  rise,  and  I  fancy  there 
will  be  sport. 

The  remaining  insects  are  of  less  importance; 
still,  sufficiently  important  to  make  imitations,  be- 
cause they  are  selected  as  the  best  from  many  others 
less  abundant. 

83 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

Nos.  9  and  10.  These  are,  I  fancy,  male  and 
female.  They  are  quite  common  day  flies  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  month,  flitting  about  near  the 
bushes,  but  always  over  the  water.  No.  9  is  mot- 
tled in  varicolored  browns;  the  horns,  divided  into 
eight  sections,  and  the  very  long  hind  legs,  are  all 
bright  brown  in  color.  They  are  swift  in  flight, 
which  makes  a  kind  of  buzz,  like  a  bluebottle.  No. 
10  is  exactly  like  No.  9  in  shape,  but  it  is  a  little 
smaller  and  the  color  is  varicolored  greens  and 
grays. 

They  are  four-wing  flies  and  are  quite  plentiful 
enough  to  warrant  an  imitation  being  made  and 
tried. 

No.  11.  A  deep  black,  shiny  insect,  covered  with 
hairs.  It  seems  to  be  of  the  spinner  family.  It 
has  two  wings  of  a  dull  gray;  the  ends  of  its  legs 
are  black,  the  inner  sections  a  bright  brown.  It 
stays  over  the  water  and  is  very  rapid  in  flight. 

No.  12.  A  small,  deep  black  gnat,  very  plenti- 
ful both  day  and  evening.  This  is  one  of  the  rare 
insects  to  be  out  on  hot  days.  I  find  at  this  late 
season  when  trout  will  not  be  persuaded  to  come  up 
after  large  flies,  these  little  gnats  often  succeed  in 
enticing  them  to  rise.  There  is  another  gnat  of  a 
similar  shape,  but  brown  in  general  tone.  It  is  a 
pretty  fly,  likely  to  be  successful,  as  it  stays  over 
the  water  and  is  very  rapid  in  flight  near  the  sur- 
face. 

84 


SOME  TROUT  INSECTS  FOR  AUGUST 

No.  13.  This  is  the  only  small  spinner  I  saw  in 
flight  that  was  at  all  plentiful.  Some  large  ones, 
isolated  specimens,  were  the  same  as  those  pictured 
in  July. 

No.  14-  Fluffy  spinners.  A  two-winged,  moth- 
like insect,  of  a  pale  creamy  color,  with  very  long 
legs  and  tail.  Its  entire  body  and  wings  are 
downy.  One  would  take  it  for  a  spinner  were  it 
not  that  its  flight  is  quite  slow. 

No.  15.  This  is  an  extremely  abundant  hairy 
caterpillar  that  is  so  thick  in  numbers  as  to  be 
crushed  at  almost  every  step  along  the  edge  of  the 
stream.  I  introduce  it  this  month  because  I  think 
a  good  imitation  caterpillar  would  be  very  effective 
for  big  trout — possibly  more  so  than  flies  in  August. 
In  fact,  every  month  has  some  particular  abundant 
caterpillar.  There  is  another  green  hairy  caterpil- 
lar in  June,  quite  as  plentiful,  which  breeds  in  a  sort 
of  webbed  enclosure  on  the  apple-trees.  During 
the  floods  in  May  there  is  the  common  brown  and 
also  the  black  hairy  caterpillar.  These  three  I  did 
not  include  in  those  months  because  the  space  was 
needed  for  the  overabundance  of  insects ;  and  I  am 
doubtful  if  they  would  at  that  time  prove  such 
effective  lures  (except  in  floods)  as  this  August 
specimen  would  be  when  insects  are  comparatively 
scarce. 

Before  concluding  this  list  of  monthly  insects  I 
would  ask  the  prudent  angler  to  give  a  fair  test  to 

85 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

a  selection  of  the  artificials.  By  a  fair  test — I  care 
not  what  water  it  be,  if  within  the  temperate  zone 
— I  mean  that  the  angler  can  choose  any  one  single 
fly  and  cast  it  where  trout  lie,  at  the  right  time  men- 
tioned in  the  fly  chart,  and  my  firm  belief  is  that, 
if  played  as  directed,  it  will  attract  and  hook  more 
trout,  as  well  as  give  more  universal  satisfaction, 
than  any  six  varieties  of  fancy  flies  cast  in  a  "chuck 
and  chance  it"  style.  It  must  be  so,  unless  trout 
get  tired  of  their  own  natural  food  to  prefer  some- 
thing different,  which  seems  to  me  improbable.  My 
sole  aim  is  cunningly  to  deceive  the  trout:  that  is, 
to  induce  the  fish  to  imagine  it  is  really  taking  its 
natural  food,  in  the  form  of  an  artificial  true  in 
color,  shape,  and  size. 

Concerning  tests  being  made  of  these  new  flies 
in  more  northern  waters — that  is,  in  Maine,  New 
Brunswick  and  western  Canada,  including  also  the 
Northern  Pacific  States — I  shall  look  forward  to 
such  tests  with  deep  interest.  I  shall  make  the 
tests  myself  at  the  earliest  date,  at  the  same  time 
making  a  collection  of  sketches  of  the  insects  native 
to  those  regions.  The  difference  of  temperature 
will,  I  think,  have  little  effect  on  aquatic  insects  of 
the  two  zones,  especially  about  midsummer.  The 
difference  will  be  greater  early  and  late  in  the  sea- 
son. 


86 


IX 


SIX  BEST  FLIES  FOR  EACH  MONTH 


In  order  that  anglers  may  not  be  overburdened 
with  too  many  flies  for  each  month,  I  choose  from 
each  monthly  plate  a  carefully  selected  list  of  about 
six  of  the  veiy  best,  that  are  fairly  representative 
and  will  give  the  most  successful  results. 

While  the  five  monthly  plates  represent  nearly 
one  hundred  varieties  that  were  carefully  chosen 
from  probably  over  five  hundred  different  speci- 
mens, I  am  of  the  opinion  that  this  restricted  list 
should  be  known  to  the  angler,  that  he  may  provide 
duplicates  and  avoid  confusion  of  many  flies. 

Some  anglers  will  consider  that  six  flies  are  a 
very  limited  selection  to  take  along  on  a  fishing  trip. 
They  would  be,  were  it  not  that  each  one  is  sure  to 
be  effective,  and  that  one  fly  may  be  successful  all 
day  long — and  perhaps  for  many  days. 

87 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

This  selected  list  is  intended  for  those  who 
fish  with  a  single  fly — dry  or  wet.  I  used  to  fish 
with  two,  sometimes  three,  on  a  cast.  After  try- 
ing all  kinds  of  dodges  to  deceive  trout,  I  go  back 
to  the  single  fly,  casting  carefully  at  the  right  time 
in  the  right  place,  with  frequent  changes,  if  re- 
quired. When  trout  are  repeatedly  rising  to  a 
heavy  flight  of  a  certain  insect  upon  the  surface,  one 
would  imagine  that  three  imitations,  exactly  alike, 
would  be  most  likely  to  capture  a  double,  or  at  least 
be  more  effective  than  a  single  imitation.  But  the 
latter  invariably  proves  the  best  rule.  If  three 
small  wet  flies  attached  to  a  long  leader  be  allowed 
to  dash  sunk  along  a  swift  runway,  one  of  them  will 
often  be  taken,  usually  the  tail  or  end  fly ;  the  other 
two  act  as  teasers.  For  really  fine  fishing,  looped 
snell  flies — however  far  apart  they  may  be  attached 
to  the  leader — destroy  a  good  accurate  cast,  in- 
stead of  assisting,  as  one  fly  does.  If  trout  are 
feeding,  a  single  fly,  well  cast,  within  the  vision  of 
the  trout,  will  be  more  likely  to  entice  it  to  rise  than 
any  number  of  flies  on  a  single  cast. 

APRIL 

The  flies  I  recommend  for  this  month's  selected 
list  are  Nos.  1,  4,  8,  9,  10,  and  17. 

No.  1  is  a  little  black  fly,  most  useful  at  all  times, 
wet  or  dry,  mornings  or  evenings.     If  the  water  is 


SIX  BEST  FLIES  FOR  EACH  MONTH 

high  and  the  weather  warm,  it  would  prove  effective 
as  second  fly  to  the  brown  drake,  No.  4. 

This  No.  4  appears  late  in  April,  but  can  be  used 
early  if  the  days  are  warm  and  sunny.  You  can 
always  rely  on  the  brown  drake,  whatever  the  con- 
ditions are  in  this  month,  as  trout  will  not  refuse  it 
if  you  place  it  anywhere  within  their  vision. 

No.  8  has  been  tested  and  found  excellent  on 
bright  days. 

No.  9  is  very  good  on  dull,  wet  days,  any  time  in 
April  or  May.  It  should  be  fished  at  the  surface; 
though  I  have  succeeded  in  getting  fish  to  rise  in 
almost  every  condition. 

No.  10  is  best  on  warm,  windy  days,  on  rough 
water;  also  at  the  foot  of  pools,  either  floated  or 
sunk.  This  fly  is  good  as  an  end  fly,  with  No.  1  as 
upper  fly,  both  sunk  in  the  deeper  parts  of  the 
stream.  I  invariably  make  a  practice  of  keeping 
sunk  flies  on  the  jump — never  still  or  in  one  place 
— with  frequent  casts  all  over  the  water. 

No.  17  is  the  female  shad-fly  without  eggs,  and  it 
can  be  used  any  time  under  any  condition — wet  or 
dry,  warm  or  cold;  but  it  must  be  used  always  at 
the  surface. 

The  angler  should  provide  himself  with  at  least 
three  of  each  of  these  six  flies.  Even  an  expert  is 
liable  to  lose  or  destroy  his  flies;  therefore  dupli- 
cates in  reserve  come  in  handy. 

89 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

MAY 

For  this  month  I  should  extend  the  list  to  eight 
best  flies :  the  variety  is  greater  and  the  fish  will  rise 
more  readily,  as  it  is  the  best  month  for  trout  fishing 
with  flies.  You  need  plenty  of  duplicates ;  for  the 
weather  is  most  always  erratic,  making  it  necessary 
to  change  flies  quite  often. 

The  best  eight  flies  are  Nos.  1,  2,  6,  8,  10,  12,  17, 
and  the  male  and  female  shad-fly. 

On  a  warm  day  in  May  you  can  fish  with  No.  1, 
green  drake,  all  day  and  evening;  though  it  is  ad- 
visable to  change  off  now  and  then  with  No.  2, 
brown  drake,  if  you  are  not  getting  the  fish  to  re- 
spond to  the  former.  Both  should  be  floated  all  the 
time. 

No.  6  is  a  dark,  rainy  day  fly.  It  also  is  to  be 
floated;  and  it  is  best  mornings  and  evenings. 

No.  8,  the  black  ant,  is  good  all  through  the  month 
in  any  weather. 

No.  10,  yellow  sally,  though  a  warm  day  fly,  can 
be  fished  all  day  in  any  weather;  but  it  is  best  at 
evenings  in  warm  weather.  It  should  be  floated; 
and  fished  in  smooth  water,  either  on  level  stretches 
or  pools. 

No.  12  is  a  good  evening  fly  in  any  kind  of 
weather. 

No.  17  is  the  golden  spinner  and  may  be  tried 
any  time  in  sunshine;  also  it  is  very  good  at  eve- 

90 


f-1  Ay        PA.TTE  R'J^j 


JUNE       PATTERNS 


SELECTED    NATURE    PLIES   TIED    IN    ACCORDANCE    WITH    THE    AUTHOR'S 
PATTERNS    AND    SOLD    I;Y    HIS    AGENTS 


SIX  BEST  FLIES  FOR  EACH  MONTH 

ning.     It  should  be  played  at  the  surface  in  all 
places  where  trout  are  likely  to  be  located. 

The  male  and  female  (with  egg-sack)  shad-fly 
can  be  fished  at  the  surface  under  any  conditions 
throughout  the  entire  month.  When  the  rise  ap- 
pears thick,  attach  both  male  and  female  to  the 
leader  and  cast  them  to  the  rising  fish.  The  shad- 
fly  is  far  superior  to  any  other  May  fly. 

JUNE 

For  the  month  of  June  I  find  a  selection  of  ten 
will  hardly  suffice  to  do  justice  to  so  many  beauti- 
ful examples.  Out  of  forty-seven  different  species 
of  drakes  captured,  I  pictured  thirteen ;  and  now  to 
sift  them  down  to  six  is  a  difficult  thing  to  do  when 
each  one  has  some  unique  feature  of  value  peculiar 
to  itself.  June  is  the  drake  and  spinner  month; 
duns  and  other  flat-wing  flies  suitable  for  imitation 
are  comparatively  rare. 

For  the  purpose  of  variety  I  select  Nos.  1,  2,  4, 
5,  9,  and  11  of  the  drakes;  and  Nos.  14,  16,  19,  and 
20  to  represent  the  best  of  the  other  species. 

The  male  and  female  green-eye  furnish  an  ex- 
cellent lure  for  warm  evenings  and  afternoons  of 
the  first  three  weeks  of  the  month.  They  should 
be  fished  floating  on  rough  water,  or  swiftly  but 
lightly  moved  over  placid  water. 

No.  4  is  good  at  all  times;  best  at  evenings  just 
before  dark. 

91 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

No.  5  is  a  splendid  all-round  fly  for  any  condi- 
tion or  time.  But  the  angler  must  use  judgment: 
if  he  discovers  this  fly  on  the  wing,  use  it;  if  not, 
imitate  that  insect  which  is  most  abundant. 

No.  9  is  every  bit  as  good  as  No.  1,  and  it  is  re- 
liable at  all  times  of  day  or  evening  because  it  is 
present  during  the  entire  month  in  fairly  good  num- 
bers. 

No.  11  is  the  same — a  fine  small  fly  that  is  taken 
at  almost  any  time. 

No.  14  is  a  dark  dun,  very  useful  for  a  change 
from  the  drakes,  if  the  former  are  not  out,  or  are 
not  taken  by  the  fish  on  cold,  dull  days. 

No.  16  can  be  used  all  through  the  month;  but, 
like  many  others,  it  is  more  effective  from  four 
o'clock  till  dark.  Weather  conditions  play  a  large 
part  in  the  choice  of  flies  during  June. 

No.  19  is  a  large  spinner,  to  be  used  during  the 
afternoons  and  evenings.  It  is  best  cast  on  the 
surface  in  quick  flights,  but  never  left  in  one  place 
and  never  allowed  to  sink. 

No.  20  can  be  fished  all  day.  It  should  be 
dragged  along  the  surface  and  may  be  sunk  in  swift 
runways  or  guided  over  and  round  submerged  rocks 
near  rough  water. 

For  successful  results  in  June  fishing  a  great  deal 
depends  upon  favorable  conditions.  The  best  time 
is  when  there  is  plenty  of  water,  and  the  day  is  warm 
and  without  wind.     In  every  case,  it  is  desirable 

92 


SIX  BEST  FLIES  FOR  EACH  MONTH 

that  you  fish  carefully,  casting  upstream  as  much  as 
possible. 

JULY 

In  July  it  is  still  more  difficult  to  get  trout  rising 
in  the  daytime,  because  so  few  flies  are  on  the  wing 
in  the  hot  sunshine.  There  are  short  periods  of 
colder,  wet  weather  which  brings  out  additional  flies, 
and  it  is  best  to  take  advantage  of  their  appearance. 
Early  morning  fishing  before  the  sun  is  up,  and 
evenings  till  dark  gives  the  best  sport  in  July.  For 
that  reason  I  shall  choose  but  six  insects.  Nos.  1, 
2,  7,  9, 10,  and  12. 

The  most  beautiful  insect  of  the  entire  season  is 
the  golden  drake,  No.  1.  It  should  be  cast  very 
lightly  and  floated  in  all  likely  spots  where  trout 
are  known  to  hide.  It  is  not  overabundant,  but  it 
appears  all  through  the  month,  at  evening,  and  it  is 
out  also  on  dull  or  wet  days. 

No.  2  does  not  appear  till  the  latter  half  of  the 
month.  It  comes  on  the  water  at  evening  and  on 
dull  or  wet  days.  It  might  be  an  effective  fly  early 
in  the  month  also.  Its  very  attractive  color  and  its 
medium  size  make  it  a  most  valuable  fly  for  July. 

No.  7  is  a  medium-sized  stone-fly.  It  is  always 
useful  as  a  change,  and  may  be  utilized  almost  any 
time  during  the  month,  day  or  evening. 

No.  9  is  a  valuable  small  gnat  for  any  and  all  oc- 
casions, making  the  best  day  fly  of  the  month,  for 

93 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

warm  days  especially.  It  can  be  played  at  the  sur- 
face or  sunk. 

No.  10  is  an  evening  or  wet  day  fly,  and  should 
be  floated  or  fluttered  along  the  surface. 

No.  12  is  a  small,  though  very  abundant,  spin- 
ner; and  it  is  useful  any  time,  day  or  evening, 
either  floated  or  sunk. 

AUGUST 

For  August,  the  last  and  least  productive  month 
of  the  season,  I  select  six  flies,  nearly  all  small  in 
size  and  very  quiet  in  tone  of  color:  Nos.  1,  2,  8,  9, 
12,  and  15. 

No.  1,  the  black  dose,  is  a  wet  day  fly,  very  plenti- 
ful during  the  latter  half  of  the  month.  On  wet, 
gloomy  days  it  rises  and  flies  slowly  along  in  goodly 
numbers ;  and  on  warm  evenings  it  is  a  most  excel- 
lent fly. 

No.  2  is  a  beautiful,  though  small,  pink  drake. 
It  is  best  at  evening,  but  it  is  often  out  when  the 
day  is  not  too  warm.  It  should  be  tried  in  the  early 
morning  before  the  sun  is  up. 

No.  8  is  the  sage-green  ant,  probably  the  best  fly 
of  the  entire  month,  though  much  depends  upon  the 
period  of  its  rise.  When  it  does  appear  for  a 
period  of  two  to  five  days  all  other  flies  can  be  laid 
aside.     The  sage-green  ant  may  be  floated  or  sunk. 

No.  9  is  a  small  daytime  fly,  sometimes  very  good 
for  warm  days. 

94 


SIX  BEST  FLIES  FOR  EACH  MONTH 

No.  12  is  a  little  black  gnat,  useful  for  hot  days 
and  evenings. 

No.  15  is  a  hairy  caterpillar,  very  useful  for  deep 
pools  and  swift  runways,  sunk  anywhere  in  deep 
water  where  trout  hide  from  the  sun. 

Fishing  in  August  depends  entirely  on  the 
weather.  If  the  water  is  extremely  low,  on  hot 
sultry  days  the  chances  are  very  slim  that  you  will 
get  a  rise  to  any  fly  whatever.  At  evening,  condi- 
tions are  vastly  improved.  Big  trout  begin  to 
move  to  the  shallows  from  deep  water,  after  both 
minnows  and  flies,  and  that  is  the  only  time  you  can 
entice  trout.  After  a  good  day's  heavy  rain — or, 
better  still,  a  rain  that  lasts  all  night — the  following 
morning,  if  cloudy,  would  be  the  most  favorable 
condition  for  August  fishing. 

This  chapter  may  possibly  be  considered  some- 
what of  a  repetition  of  the  monthly  list  of  flies,  but 
the  value  of  this  selection  is  that  it  makes  the  list 
far  more  simplified  and  easier  to  follow. 

I  can  well  conceive  that  no  angler  will  bother  to 
carry  along  a  book  to  consult  while  fishing,  or  even 
take  it  along  on  a  trip,  to  find  out  the  proper  use  of 
the  various  flies.  But  he  can  devise  a  plan,  as  I 
shall  do:  that  is,  to  keep  flies  separate  in  different 
little  boxes,  marked  warm  day  flies,  cold  day  flies, 
evening  flies,  etc.,  etc.  By  dividing  them  up  in 
this  manner,  we  soon  get  familiar  with  the  right 
time  to  use  them;  and  of  course  the  natural  fly  on 

95 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

the  wing  will  be  a  never-failing  guide.  The  de- 
scriptions are  so  accurate  and  the  drawings  are  so 
faithfully  copied  that  there  will  be  no  danger  of  not 
recognizing  the  natural  insect  on  the  wing. 


96 


X 


CONCERNING  MY  ARTIFICIAL  IMITATIONS 


Some  time  ago,  when  the  material  contained  in 
this  book  was  running  in  serial  form  through  the 
pages  of  Field  and  Stream,  I  experienced  the 
greatest  difficulty  in  trying  to  persuade  both  ama- 
teur and  professional  fly-makers  to  tie  patterns  from 
my  drawings  of  the  natural  insect.  The  excuses 
were  both  amusing  and  annoying.  The  only  thing 
left  for  me  to  overcome  such  a  setback  to  my  work 
was  a  determination  to  tie  my  own  patterns.  The 
knowledge  I  had  of  the  art  of  fly-tying  was  prac- 
tically nil;  but  various  friends  who  tie  their  own 
flies  (and  very  good  ones,  too)  seemed  to  think  the 
hand  and  brain  of  an  artist  were  sufficiently  deli- 
cate and  capable  of  doing  so,  and  I  set  about  the 
task  to  accomplish  the  object  of  my  desire. 

I  have  since  had  reason  to  be  very  grateful  that 
those  refusals  led  me  into  what  I  now  consider  the 

97 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

most  delightful  branch  of  our  well-beloved  recrea- 
tion. True,  it  forced  me  into  some  months  of  close 
study  during  the  hot  weather ;  but  the  final  outcome 
was  a  fascinating  and  agreeable  surprise,  and  I  am 
well  repaid.  I  still  have  much  to  learn ;  but  that's 
the  fun  of  it.  I  am  not  envious  of  the  fly-makers' 
superior  workmanship,  because  I  know  that  prac- 
tice makes  perfection  if  you  devote  sufficient  time 
to  the  work.  While  I  desire  very  much  that  an- 
glers will  get  my  artificials  and  test  them,  I  also 
wish  them  to  follow  my  footsteps  and  enjoy  the 
pleasure  of  tying  their  own  flies,  either  after  my 
own  drawing  of  the  insect  or  from  the  natural  in- 
sect itself.  That  is  the  reason  I  include  a  chapter 
in  this  book  on  how  to  tie  artificial  flies.  What 
success  I  have  achieved,  aside  from  the  work  in- 
volved, is  due  to  a  great  extent  to  Mr.  Halford's 
excellent  chapters  on  how  to  tie  flies  in  "Trout- 
Stream  Entomology" — a  book  every  thoughtful 
American  angler  should  read,  if  not  possess ;  for  it 
goes  much  farther  than  I  do  and  is  more  elaborate 
in  treatment. 

When  the  patterns  of  nearly  one  hundred  newly 
named  flies  were  finally  made,  another  serious  trou- 
ble appeared  as  to  how  they  could  be  supplied  to 
anglers  at  a  reasonable  cost.  The  great  number  of 
communications  from  magazine  readers  and  other 
anglers  soon  made  it  evident  that  I  could  not  possi- 
bly alone  supply  enough  samples  of  my  own  handi- 

98 


ARTIFICIAL  IMITATIONS 

work,  and  I  set  about  securing  a  reliable  firm  to 
make  the  flies  and  sell  them.  By  confining  the 
manufacture  of  these  new  flies  to  one  house,  I  could 
be  more  certain  of  a  uniformity  and  correctness  in 
copying  the  patterns,  especially  if  I  gave  my  per- 
sonal supervision  to  the  work.  With  that  end  in 
view,  I  arranged  with  the  firm  of  William  Mills 
&  Son — agents  for  the  famous  Leonard  Rods — 
Park  Place,  New  York  City,  to  have  exclusive 
rights  to  make  and  sell  all  my  new  patterns  which 
are  ten  for  April,  ten  for  May,  ten  for  June,  and 
ten  for  July.  In  that  way  only  could  I  guarantee 
that  the  patterns  are  what  I  intend  they  should  be. 

It  is  very  possible  that  copies  will  be  made  and 
sold  by  others;  but  only  those  flies  got  direct 
through  Mills  &  Son  will  have  my  endorsement 
as  correct  copies  of  my  drawings  of  the  natural  in- 
sects. 

One  of  the  dealers  said  to  me,  "We  have  many 
flies  nearly  like  yours." 

"That  may  be  so,"  I  replied;  "but  have  your  flies 
under  bodies  paler  than  the  upper  ?  Are  they  used 
when  the  natural  insect  (from  which  they  are 
copied)  is  on  the  water?" 

By  the  systematized  method  of  fishing,  success 
is  sure.  The  haphazard  method  of  casting  any  sort 
of  fly  without  consideration  of  the  feeding  trout 
will,  nine  times  out  of  ten,  utterly  fail;  if  you  are 
fishing  in  anything  but  extraordinarily  favorable 

99 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

conditions — viz.,  when  trout  are  exceedingly  vo- 
racious and  food  is  scarce.  The  prevailing  condi- 
tions are,  alas,  mostly  the  other  way.  That  is  why 
these  new  flies  and  new  methods  are  more  to  be  de- 
sired by  the  rank  and  file  of  anglers. 


100 


XI 


NEW  NAMES  FOR  FLIES 


After  tying  these  artificial  imitations  from  my 
drawings  of  the  living  insects,  I  found  it  necessary 
that  a  new  name  be  given  them  in  order  to  identify 
one  from  the  other,  both  for  my  own  use  in  future 
and  to  assist  others  who  may  perhaps  want  artifi- 
cials copied  true  to  the  natural  insect.  This  per- 
plexing problem  I  solved  in  having  the  names 
chosen  to  denote  some  particular  form  or  color  of 
each  individual  insect  in  the  various  classes.  To 
name  flies  after  rivers,  places,  or  people  is  provin- 
cial, commonplace,  and  utterly  in  bad  taste.  We 
could  not  follow  the  names  found  in  English  books 
on  angling  flies ;  nor  the  flies  that  by  age  are  so  well 
known  as  typical  American  flies.  Assuming  the 
insects  pictured  in  English  books  on  entomology 
or  angling  to  be  exact  copies  of  nature,  after  dili- 


101 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

gent  search  I  find  no  duplicate  in  form  and  color 
of  the  insects  native  to  American  streams. 

For  that  and  some  other  reasons  it  is  far  prefer- 
able to  go  along  original  lines,  at  least  in  the  be- 
ginning, if  we  wish  to  simplify  this  important  sub- 
ject. To  copy  the  natural  insect  faithfully,  then 
to  give  it  a  common  ( and  what  I  hope  will  become 
a  familiar)  name  that  is  distinctly  and  typically 
American,  will  be  a  start  in  the  right  direction  to 
attain  order  and  system  in  classification. 

It  is  out  of  my  province  as  an  artist  angler  to 
search  out  from  books  on  entomology  the  Latin 
names  of  each  species  caught  and  pictured.  The 
work  is  quite  difficult  enough  as  it  is;  and  I  doubt 
if  it  would  serve  any  good  purpose  or  that  such 
names  are  desired  by  the  humble  followers  of  the 
immortal  Izaak  Walton,  who,  like  myself,  prefer 
to  devote  precious  time  to  more  useful  things.  I 
find  upon  careful  inquiry  that  no  book  has  yet  been 
issued  on  the  entomology  of  American  aquatic  in- 
sects alluring  to  trout,  nor  have  these  insects  been 
even  classified.  I  was  asked  by  an  angling  expert 
who  was  examining  my  drawings,  "Why  don't  you 
give  the  proper  Latin  names  to  each  fly?"  My  an- 
swer was,  "I  would  do  so,  but  no  entomologist  has 
yet  made  any  effort  to  classify  American  trout  in- 
sects into  orders  or  divisions,  families  and  species, 
as  has  been  done  in  France  and  England."     It 

would  take  a  lifetime  of  not  one  man,  but  several, 

102 


NEW  NAMES  FOR  FLIES 

to  collect  and  classify  a  complete  collection  of  the 
various  orders  of  the  insect  world  in  so  vast  a  coun- 
try as  ours.  This  wide  field  is  waiting  for  some 
able  student  or  professor  of  entomology. 

The  present  conditions  are  now  that  the  ama- 
teur— indeed,  the  average  angler — is  helpless:  he 
must  of  necessity  purchase  whatever  the  dealer  has 
for  sale,  both  domestic  and  imported,  in  the  way  of 
trout  flies;  and  it  is  natural  to  suppose  that  the 
dealer  wants  to  buy  low  and  sell  at  high  prices.  It 
is  a  remarkable  fact  that  certain  popular  flies — 
like  the  March  brown,  cowdung,  and  many  others 
I  could  mention — as  sold  by  the  dealers  are  as  un- 
like the  natural  insect  as  possible.  Each  maker  has 
his  own  idea  what  a  March  brown  is;  but,  curiously 
enough,  no  imitation  is  at  all  like  the  natural  insect 
of  that  name.  So  I  change  mine  to  the  old- 
fashioned  title  of  brown  drake. 


103 


XII 

THE  MAKING  OF  AN  ARTIFICIAL  FLY 

The  manipulation  of  a  trout  fly  is  a  much  more 
simple  undertaking  than  I  had  supposed.  The 
circumstances  which,  in  a  measure,  forced  me  into 
this  most  delightful  art  are  noted  in  the  chapter 
on  "Artificial  Imitations."  Not  everybody  is  con- 
stituted to  make  a  fly;  though  the  attributes  of  all 
"born  anglers"  conduce  toward  the  successful  ac- 
complishment of  this  fascinating  work.  These  at- 
tributes are  patience,  delicacy  of  touch,  and  a  cer- 
tain love  for  everything  intimately  connected  with 
our  favorite  recreation. 

Only  the  most  salient  points,  condensed  and 
briefly  told,  will  be  required  for  the  beginner  to  get 
an  insight  of  the  art ;  the  method  is  best  learned  by 
practice  and  experience. 

There  are  no  laws  or  rules  governing  fly-tying; 
the  all-important  thing  is  to  get  neatness,  solidity, 

104 


THE  MAKING  OF  AN  ARTIFICIAL  FLY 

strength,  and  artistic  finish  by  the  use  of  the  tying 
silk  and  in  the  winding  up  or  finishing  knot.  Con- 
siderable deftness  in  cutting  a  neat,  well-shaped 
wing,  and  a  certain  delicacy  of  touch  in  fashioning 
various  shapes  and  forms  of  the  body  are  required ; 
and  those  who  happen  to  have  thin,  pliable  finger- 
ends  have  quite  some  advantage.  The  reason  girls 
are  best  fitted  to  make  flies  is  that  their  fingers  are 
more  apt  to  be  long  and  thin. 

The  amateur  fly-dresser  should  first  read  and 
study  some  of  the  excellent  books  devoted  to  the 
subject,  the  majority  of  which  have  been  published 
in  England.  I  learned  most  from  Halford's  "Dry 
Fly  Entomology,"  which  gives  the  different  meth- 
ods of  a  number  of  experts.  I  think  that  the  be- 
ginner will  find  in  this  chapter  sufficient  informa- 
tion to  make  a  start,  with  the  aid  of  the  diagram 
sketches,  and  then  he  should  work  out  for  himself 
a  method  most  suited  to  his  own  individual  need. 

materials:  feathers  and  hackles 

The  fly-dresser's  first  and  most  important  work 
is  to  gather  and  get  together  a  collection  of  feathers, 
particularly  wing  and  hackle  feathers,  the  latter 
being  taken  from  the  necks  of  different  breeds  of 
poultry  and  game  birds.  Hackles  are  the  stiff 
feathers  employed  to  imitate  the  legs  of  various 
trout  insects. 

There  are  two  ways  to  gather  a  collection  of 

105 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

feathers,  viz. :  to  buy  them,  and  to  beg  them.  The 
former  is  easier  and  quicker ;  but  the  latter,  though 
slow,  is  far  more  interesting,  because  it  is  a  hunt  or 
quest,  which  is  always  interesting  in  many  ways. 
You  can  "buttonhole"  every  poultry-man,  hunter, 
furrier,  and  taxidermist  of  your  acquaintance  for 
assistance;  and  in  that  way  you  are  more  likely  to 
get  choice  varieties  and  colors  not  available  in  the 
market  at  any  price. 

Get  the  hackles  on  the  skin,  if  you  can ;  for  they 
are  then  bunched  together  and  are  more  handy  to 
use,  and  you  can  keep  them  better  in  stock.  If  you 
cannot  get  them  on  the  skin,  tie  each  variety  in 
bunches,  and  keep  them  in  glass  jars,  where  they 
are  quite  secure  from  moths.  If  you  are  a  smoker, 
you  can  use  the  pound  glass  tobacco  jars  (with 
covers),  which  are  just  the  thing  for  the  pur- 
pose. 

Mr.  Halford  advises — and  many  fly-makers  fol- 
low this  method — that  you  trim  off  all  the  hackle 
and  wing  feathers,  by  stripping  off  the  downy  por- 
tions. This  is  for  a  dual  purpose:  first,  moths  go 
for  the  downy  portion  in  preference  to  the  feather; 
second,  your  feather  and  hackle  are  always  ready 
for  use  to  select  from. 

Personally,  I  do  not  agree.  I  have  found  out, 
after  tying  a  hundred  new  patterns,  that  the  lower 
parts  of  hackles  are  most  useful  for  the  long  legs 
of  spinners,  and  the  lower  parts  of  wing  feathers 

106 


VICE 


TOOLS  FOR,   AND  METHODS  OF  MAKING  A  FLY 
107 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

come  in  handy  for  many  important  uses — the  quills 
being  useful  for  detached  bodies,  and  much  of  the 
downy  portions  for  packing  bodies,  hairy  insects  or 
caterpillars,  etc.  Then,  again,  you  never  know  in 
advance  how  long  you  may  need  a  hackle  or  feather. 
For  these  reasons,  I  prefer  to  trim  feathers  at  the 
time  I  want  to  use  them. 

Some  flat  stripped  wing  feathers  are  best  kept  in 
envelopes ;  but  I  much  prefer  to  keep  the  wing  in- 
tact, stripping  as  I  go  along.  There  are  many 
small  inside  wing  feathers  which  are  most  useful; 
in  fact,  every  feather  on  the  bird  comes  in  at  one 
time  or  another.  Curved  feathers  should  be  kept  in 
boxes  or  glass  jars. 

When  you  start  your  collection,  remember  that 
small  birds  are  most  useful  in  making  little  flies. 
The  wings,  tail,  and  neck  feather  of  the  cock  spar- 
row are  extremely  useful;  and  the  entire  skin  and 
wings  of  the  starling  are  better  still.  Beautiful 
hackle  feathers  for  small  flies  can  be  taken  from  the 
neck,  rump,  and  under  wing  of  the  starling  and 
other  birds  of  a  similar  size.  It  is  quite  a  simple 
matter  to  trap  small  birds  and  skin  them  immedi- 
ately before  the  body  becomes  cold.  When  the  skin 
is  ripped  off,  just  tack  it  (with  feathers  down)  to  a 
piece  of  board,  and  let  it  lie  in  a  dark  closet  away 
from  flies  for  a  few  days,  and  it  will  dry  without  any 
powder  or  solution.  Large  birds  with  fat  on  the 
skins  can  be  sprinkled  over  with  saltpeter  after  the 

108 


THE  MAKING  OF  AN  ARTIFICIAL  FLY 

fat  portions  which  adhere  to  the  skin  are  carefully 
shaved  off. 

One  of  the  most  useful  parts  of  your  feather 
stock  are  the  fihers  from  the  tail  feathers  of  a  pea- 
cock. This  is  called  harl,  and  is  useful  in  heads  and 
bodies  such  as  those  of  the  fancy  fly  called  coach- 
man or  black  gnat.  The  harl  is  wound  in  precisely 
the  same  manner  as  silk  or  tinsel.  In  procuring 
harl  fibers,  be  sure  to  get  them  newly  plucked — if 
possible,  from  a  living  bird;  because  then  they  are 
strong  and  are  bright  in  color,  and  they  keep  so  for 
some  time.  Old  peacock  feathers  turn  from  the 
vivid  iridescent  green  color  to  a  dirty  brown. 

If  you  desire  to  have  some  feathers  dyed  various 
colors,  you  can  purchase  some  of  the  reliable  pack- 
ets of  dye,  following  the  directions  given  with  the 
packet.  This  probably  will  prove  the  simplest  way. 
I  have  not  yet  made  any  effort  in  this  direction.  I 
would  rather  trust  to  the  natural-colored  feathers; 
it  may  take  a  little  more  time  in  selection,  but  in 
dyeing  feathers  there  will  be  some  troubles  to  con- 
tend with,  it  is  certain. 

The  beginner  will  know  best,  and  have  his  own 
way  to  arrange  to  keep  feathers  from  moths.  It  is 
certainly  a  most  important  thing  to  keep  them  clear ; 
for  when  moths  do  get  among  them  they  destroy  in  a 
short  time  your  choicest  and  best  specimens.  A 
good,  tight,  well-made  box,  or  a  small  closet  with 
shelves  made  especially  to  place  all  the  materials 

109 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

for  fly-tying,  is  the  best  thing  to  have.  Any  recep- 
tacle in  which  you  place  feathers  should  be  opened 
and  examined  frequently,  when  not  in  use,  so  that 
ravages  by  these  little  pests  may  be  curtailed  and 
destroyed.  In  addition,  moth  powder  should  be 
sprinkled  over  everything  in  the  box  so  often  that 
the  strong  odor  is  ever  present. 

VARIOUS   OTHER   MATERIALS 

The  large  department  store's  embroidery  counter 
is  a  mine  of  wealth  for  the  fly-tier.  There  may  be 
found  nearly  everything  you  want  in  the  way  of 
plain  and  floss  silks,  gold  and  silver  wire,  raffia 
grass,  and  wool. 

To  begin  with,  you  need  a  big  spool  (1500  yards) 
of  black  silk  for  winding.  It  must  be  a  combina- 
tion of  fineness  with  strength.  No  cheap  silk  will 
suffice  for  the  purpose.  As  I  am  satisfied  with  the 
silk  I  use,  I  give  the  name.  It  is  Holland  Com- 
pany's Prime  Black,  No.  00.  Upon  this  winding 
silk  depends  a  good  deal  the  fly's  being  strong  and 
neat. 

You  will  need  a  varied  selection  of  smaller  spools 
of  colored  silks ;  in  fact,  nearly  every  shade  of  color 
is  desirable.  These  may  be  got  in  fifty-yard  spools. 
They  should  be  twisted  silks  of  various  thicknesses, 
and  also  selected  colors  of  floss  silks. 

For  the  body  windings,  wool  is  of  greater  service 

than  silk,  as  it  retains  its  bright  colors  when  wet. 

no 


THE  MAKING  OF  AN  ARTIFICIAL  FLY 

What  is  known  as  Lion  Brand  Saxony  wool  is  a 
useful  article,  because  the  hanks  are  dyed  so  that 
each  shade  of  green — or  other  color — fades  into  a 
darker  or  a  lighter  shade  at  about  every  yard- 
length  ;  thus  it  is  possible  to  cut  off  pieces  any  shade 
you  want. 

For  foundation  work  I  use  mercerized  cotton  of 
different  shades  and  thickness. 

Another  very  important  material  is  some  mohair 
wool  dyed  in  different  bright  colors,  so  necessary 
for  the  rough,  hairy  appearance  required  in  certain 
flies. 

Raffia  comes  dyed  in  almost  every  possible  shade ; 
and  a  sorted  selection  for  ten  cents  will  last  a  life- 
time. This  raffia  is  very  useful  indeed,  for  every 
part  of  the  body,  and  it  keeps  it  bright  color  in  the 
water  perfectly.  It  can  be  used  flat  over  a  founda- 
tion, it  can  be  twisted  for  winding  upon,  or  it  can 
be  used  by  itself  as  a  body;  and  it  is  as  strong  as 
silk. 

The  gold  and  silver  wire  may  be  bought  in  many 
ways:  flat,  or  round,  or  twisted,  or  flat  tinsel.  A 
good  selection  of  all  kinds  and  thicknesses  is  advisa- 
ble; and  all  of  them  should  be  kept  together  in  a 
box,  from  the  light  and  dampness,  so  that  time  will 
not  fade  them. 

All  these  various  materials  may  be  purchased  to- 
gether either  at  a  department  store  or  at  a  regular 

embroidery  establishment. 

111 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

For  the  legs  and  bodies  of  some  flies,  the  hair  or 
fur  of  certain  animals  is  used.  It  can  be  bought 
for  a  few  cents  from  the  furrier,  because  the  small- 
est clippings  will  suffice.  White,  black,  brown,  and 
gray  are  most  needful;  and  an  extended  selection  is 
best.  It  should  be  kept  in  a  jar,  protected  from  the 
light  and  made  secure  from  moths. 

In  making  detached  bodies,  or  cocked  tails  of 
drakes,  boars'  bristles  are  used.  These  can  be  pro- 
cured from  shoemakers'  supply  stores;  where  you 
also  may  get  the  black  shoemaker's  wax  used  for 
waxing  the  black  tying  silk. 

Another  useful  body  material  is  the  quill  stripped 
from  large  feathers  of  peacock,  eagle,  and  condor. 
This  quill  is  carefully  stripped  off,  and  then  cut 
thin  or  wide  according  to  what  is  required.  The 
quill  can  be  dyed  almost  any  color,  and  it  is  ex- 
tremely useful  in  many  ways.  When  tied  round 
the  bare  hook  or  on  a  solid  body  foundation,  it 
makes  a  splendid  winding  for  some  kinds  of  bodies. 

White,  black,  and  red  horse  hair,  also,  is  used 
with  excellent  results  for  small,  thin  bodies  or  for 
the  section  markings  on  the  tail.  White  horsehair 
can  be  dyed  various  colors  and  utilized  with  telling 
effect,  especially  in  making  the  small  tails  of  drakes. 

The  dressing  of  delicate-colored  bodies  requires  a 

transparent  wax  that  will  not  discolor  the  silk  or 

the  feathers  that  are  wound. 

For  tail  wisks,  mottled  or  plain-colored  fibers 

112 


THE  MAKING  OF  AN  ARTIFICIAL  FLY 

from  the  various  wing  and  other  feathers  should  be 
included. 

Lastly,  a  small  bottle  of  varnish  to  harden  the 
tying-off.  This  will  about  complete  the  list  of  ma- 
terials for  the  amateur  or  beginner. 

IMPLEMENTS 

The  implements  and  tools  required  are  few.  A 
pair  of  small,  sharp-pointed  scissors;  a  pair  of  nail 
scissors  with  curved  points ;  a  thick,  blunted  needle, 
fixed  in  a  wooden  handle — mostly  used  for  picking 
out  the  tying  silk  when  making  the  half-hitch  and 
making  fast.  A  pair  of  hackle  pliers  or  tweezers; 
a  pair  of  smooth  pointed  forceps  to  pick  up  small 
objects  or  feathers;  and  a  small  vise  to  hold  the 
hook. 

A  vise  may  be  purchased  from  a  watchmakers' 
tool  supply  shop.  I  bought  one ;  but  I  soon  found 
my  left  forefinger  and  thumb  to  be  more  satisfac- 
tory in  every  way.  Halford  considers  a  vise  abso- 
lutely necessary,  but  he  does  say,  "Many  well- 
known  amateur  fly-makers  prefer  to  use  their  fin- 
gers and  work  without  a  vise."  I  have  also  dis- 
pensed with  hackle  pliers ;  I  can  grasp  and  twist  the 
feather  around  the  body  with  far  greater  freedom 
and  neatness.  And  I  see  very  little  use  for  the  for- 
ceps, except  to  those  who  have  large  fingers.  Mine 
are  small,  and  I  keep  the  nails  of  my  two  thumbs 
and  first  fingers  longer  than  those  of  the  other  fin- 

113 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

gers,  so  that  I  can  readily  pick  up  any  object  with 
ease.  All  anglers  will  find  it  most  convenient  to 
keep  those  nails  longer  to  facilitate  tying  knots, 
untying  them  on  gut,  or  fastening  eyed  hooks  to 
the  cast. 

Another  needless  implement  is  the  small  bobbin 
to  weigh  down  the  tying  silk  while  you  do  the  wind- 
ing. I  found  the  bobbin  to  interfere  with  both  hook 
and  feathers.  If  you  wax  the  silk  thoroughly,  it 
will  hold  stiff  and  keep  in  its  place. 

The  only  tools  I  use  are  the  scissors  and  the  thick 
needle,  the  latter  being  constantly  in  service.  I 
make  mine  out  of  a  lady's  hatpin,  cutting  it  to  about 
three  inches  long,  and  fastening  it  in  a  small  wooden 
handle. 

To  tie  flies  for  any  length  of  time  in  one  attitude 
becomes  wearisome.  To  make  it  easier,  I  have  all 
the  necessary  implements  and  materials  neatly  ar- 
ranged in  a  box,  of  either  cardboard  or  light  wood, 
two  inches  deep,  and  twelve  by  fourteen  wide.  By 
this  means  I  can  move  from  place  to  place  or  at  least 
take  a  different  position  and  go  on  working  without 
getting  tired.  If  you  get  used  to  a  vise  fastened  to 
a  table,  on  to  any  fixture,  you  are  bound  to  it — and 
to  a  backache. 

MANIPULATION 

The  amateur  must  first  understand  that  in  the 
making  of  artificial  flies  the  method  of  procedure 

114 


THE  MAKING  OF  AN  ARTIFICIAL  FLY 

varies  considerably  with  each  individual.  No  two 
persons  tie  alike;  no  two  seem  to  dress  a  certain  fly 
the  same,  and  I  venture  to  assume  that  of  a  number 
of  fly-dressers  copying  the  natural  insect,  nearly 
all  would  go  about  it  in  a  different  way,  and  would 
have  an  entirely  different  result.  At  the  age  of 
five — that  is  fifty  years  ago — I  began  under  my 
father's  tuition  to  copy  nature ;  and  I  am  still  at  it. 
That  is  why  an  artist  has  no  reason  to  balk  at  copy- 
ing a  simple,  though  very  beautiful,  insect.  I 
asked  six  amateur  fly-dressers  to  make  artificials 
from  my  colored  drawings  of  the  natural  insects 
(which  I  had  taken  the  greatest  pains  to  depict  in 
the  attitude  they  most  generally  assume).  All  six 
declined  to  do  it.  They  said,  "We  must  have  an 
artificial  fly  for  a  pattern;  not  a  picture." 

So  to  learn  the  art  of  fly-dressing,  I  suggest  the 
amateur  to  do  as  I  did:  find  out  by  practical  ex- 
perience the  most  effective  way,  the  quickest  and 
easiest  way.  Most  of  the  amateurs  claim  their 
method  the  only  right  one.  Yet  some  tie  on  wings 
first  and  body  afterward.  I  found  it  much  more 
simple  and  convenient  to  make  the  body  first,  then 
tie  on  the  wings;  and  finish  up  by  putting  on  the 
hackle.  I  have  previously  stated  that  there  are  no 
rockbound  rules;  each  one  works  out,  or  blunders 
out,  his  own  method. 

Roughly  speaking,  there  are  three  kinds  of 
bodies :  a  fat  body  that  needs  a  foundation  to  thicken 

115 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

it ;  a  thin  body  wherein  the  material  is  wound  simply 
around  the  hook ;  and  a  detached  body,  when  the  tail 
is  made  separate  from,  or  raised  above,  the  body  yet 
is  part  of  it. 

Before  giving  a  description  of  the  making  of 
bodies,  which  will  be  understood  better  from  the 
diagram  sketches,  I  deem  it  wise  to  mention  a  few 
important  features  concerning  the  method  em- 
ployed. 

It  is  most  important  that  the  tying  silk  be  well 
waxed,  so  that  it  will  not  slip,  but  will  hold  fast  and 
solid  when  you  tie  up  the  tinsel,  raffia  or  any  other 
material  at  the  head  or  tail. 

If  the  body  is  light  in  color,  it  requires  a  light, 
delicate  yellow  or  pale  blue  tying  silk ;  and  it  should 
be  waxed  with  transparent  wax  that  will  not  dis- 
color the  silk.  If  the  body  is  to  be  dark,  and  dark 
silk  is  used  for  tying,  the  black  shoemaker's  wax  is 
the  best. 

If  you  get  used  to  working  without  a  vise  the 
thumb  and  first  finger  of  the  left  hand  must  be 
trained  to  grasp,  firm  and  tight,  the  hook,  the  body, 
and  the  wings.  This  would  seem  a  trivial  matter; 
but  at  first  you  will  constantly  be  dropping  and  slip- 
ping the  fly  unless  this  firm  grasp  is  attained.  The 
thumb  and  forefinger  nails  of  both  hands  should 
be  long  enough  to  pick  up  readily  small  single 
hooks,  then  bristles,  and  delicate  wisks  used  for  the 
tails.     I  have  said  this  before ;  but  the  matter  is  so 

116 


THE  MAKING  OF  AN  ARTIFICIAL  FLY 

important  that  a  repetition  is  not  wasted.  You 
will  save  a  good  deal  of  trouble  by  discarding  the 
use  of  tweezers  every  time  you  pick  up  objects. 

The  tying  silk  must  always  be  wound  and  pulled 
as  tight  as  you  dare  without  having  a  break.  Es- 
pecially does  the  end  tie  need  to  be  pulled  perfectly 
tight,  that  the  fly  may  not  come  apart  or  the  wings 
come  off. 

For  the  fastening-off  knot  I  use  the  two  turns 
(perhaps  three)  and  half  hitch.  I  know  it  is  the 
old-fashioned  way,  but  I  am  used  to  it,  and  it  is  so 
single  that  I  see  no  valid  reason  to  tie  otherwise. 
Mr.  Halford  severely  condemns  it.  He  favors  the 
"whip"  finish,  which  is  more  trouble  and  gives  a  lot 
of  bother,  especially  in  tying  on  the  hackle.  If  the 
half  hitch  is  drawn  good  and  tight,  and  the  finish  is 
waxed  and  varnished,  the  knot  stays  secure.  How- 
ever, I  give  here  the  whip  finish  as  described  by  Mr. 
Halford,  so  that  those  who  desire  to  do  so  may  use 
it.     The  whip  finish  for  tying  off  is  made  thus : 

"Lay  the  end  of  the  tying  silk  back  towards  the 
tail  to  form  an  open  loop,  and  work  one  turn  of  the 
loop  round  the  neck  of  the  eye.  Similarly,  work 
three  more  turns  of  the  loop,  passing  it  at  each  turn 
over  the  eye.  Holding  the  hook  and  turns  of  silk 
firmly  between  the  left  thumb  and  forefinger,  draw 
the  end  of  the  tying  silk  down  with  the  right  hand 
until  the  knot  is  quite  tight.  It  is  essential  in  this 
operation  to  proceed  slowly,   so  as  to  allow  the 

117 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

warmth  of  the  finger  and  thumb  to  soften  the  wax, 
and  allow  the  silk  to  draw  freely.  Cut  off  the  rem- 
nant of  the  silk,  varnish  the  knot  thoroughly,  and  if 
in  this  operation  the  eye  is  filled  with  varnish,  do  not 
neglect  to  clear  it." 

It  will  be  advisable  to  state  here,  for  the  benefit 
of  those  not  used  to  eyed  hooks,  that  these  direc- 
tions apply  exclusively  to  eyed  hooks,  and  not  to 
plain  hooks  lashed  or  tied  on  gut.  Artificials  tied 
on  eyed  hook  are  in  every  way  superior.  They  can 
be  tied  on  the  gut  and  taken  off  for  a  change  of  fly 
at  any  time  desired.  If  properly  tied  they  are  sure 
to  wear  better  and  give  more  satisfaction  in  every 
way. 

THE   WAY   TO   TIE   A   FLY 

You  can  much  more  readily  grasp  the  method  of 
making  a  fly  from  diagram  sketches  than  from  a 
long,  detailed  description,  which  would  only  prove 
wearisome  and  confusing. 

The  amateur  must  be  content  to  master  first  the 
simple,  easy  flies  with  upright  wings  and  flat  bodies, 
like  the  commercial  flies.  Those  bodies  of  different 
thicknesses — that  is,  fat  in  the  middle  or  tapering 
down  thin — are  best  left  till  the  plain,  even  body  is 
understood. 

After  you  are  past  the  rudimentary  stage  you  can 
then  make  efforts  to  copy  the  natural  insects,  no  two 
bodies  of  which  are  alike  in  thickness.     Then,  after- 

118 


THE  MAKING  OF  AN  ARTIFICIAL  FLY 

ward,  if  you  wish  to  copy  beetles,  spiders,  palmers, 
or  caterpillars,  with  legs  all  along  the  body,  try  your 
hand  at  it.  And  if  you  want  to  make  a  split-wing 
fly,  now  widely  used  and  by  English  experts  con- 
sidered best  for  floating  flies,  all  you  have  to  do  is 
to  wind  the  silk  between  the  wings  instead  of  around 
them.  I  do  not  think  these  split-wing  flies  are 
good,  because  the  natural  up-wing  drakes  (com- 
prising over  forty  species)  all  float  on  the  water 
with  wings  tightly  closed  and  not  flat.  Another 
thing,  with  the  aid  of  oil,  the  tight-wing  fly  will  float 
upright  just  as  well  as  the  spread-wing. 

Halford's  book  is  nearly  twenty  years  old. 
Leonard  West  is  more  true  to  nature;  while  the 
drawings  are  amateurish,  they  do  make  a  beginning 
to  lead  the  way  to  some  progress  in  the  art  of  fly- 
making.  Therefore  it  remains  evident  that  three 
ways  of  tying  wings  should  be  understood :  the  up- 
right-wing flies  to  represent  drakes;  the  down-  or 
side-wing  flies  for  the  duns;  and  spread-wings  for 
spinners.  Spiders,  beetles,  and  other  insects  less  in 
use  are  but  a  variation;  and,  after  all,  I  doubt  if 
they  are  worth  the  trouble  of  making  when  drakes 
and  duns  are  on  the  wing. 

To  make  a  fat  body,  you  first  wind  a  foundation. 
For  this  I  use  mercerized  cotton,  which  is  soft  and 
silky,  yet  not  bulky,  and  is  much  cheaper  than  silk. 
Remember,  all  winding  must  be  carefully  done, 
smooth   and   well   laid,    not    lumpy   or   irregular. 

119 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

With  the  winding  silk  you  tie  fast  the  ribbing  or 
tinsel  and  body  material  at  the  bend  of  the  hook,  or 
tail  end,  and  the  thorax  or  shoulder  material  you 
tie  at  the  eye  end.  The  thorax  should  never  be  too 
thick,  because  the  tying  on  of  wings  and  afterward 
the  hackle  makes  the  thorax  thicker  still. 

A  thin  body  requires  the  material  tied  round  the 
hook  itself,  whether  it  be  of  silk,  raffia,  horsehair, 
quill,  or  tinsel,  or  a  combination  of  any  of  these. 

To  wing  the  fly,  after  the  body  is  completed,  and 
all  ends  neatly  cut  away,  you  must  first  prepare 
your  wings.  Cut  out  the  tips  from  feathers  of 
small  birds'  wings,  or  neatly  cut  from  the  sides  of 
large  wing  feathers ;  then  trim  these  to  the  right  size, 
having  them  evenly  matched,  with  a  corresponding 
feather  from  each  wing  of  the  same  bird  cut  down 
to  the  appropriate  size.  When  this  is  done,  with 
the  left  finger  and  thumb  hold  the  wings  tightly  in 
place  and  tie  fast.  If  the  wings  get  out  of  place, 
too  far  forward  or  backward,  force  them  exactly 
right  before  tying  off.  After  it  is  tied  secure,  cut 
off  the  stumps  as  neatly  as  possible  and  the  fly  is 
then  ready  for  the  hackle  or  legs. 

Before  you  tie  on  the  hackle  it  must,  like  the 
wings,  be  prepared.  First,  strip  off  the  downy 
plumes  at  the  base  of  the  quill.  Then,  taking  the 
extreme  point  between  the  thumb  and  forefinger  of 
the  left  hand,  with  the  right  thumb  and  forefinger 
slightly  moistened,  stroke  back  the  whole  of  the 

120 


THE  MAKING  OF  AN  ARTIFICIAL  FLY 

plume,  except  the  small  tip  portion,  which  should 
be  held  tight  to  the  body  of  the  fly.  Then  wind  the 
tip  portion  in  position  with  winding  silk,  taking  two 
turns  and  a  half  hitch.  For  extra  safety,  tighten 
the  tip  portion  with  the  left  thumb.  Then  grasp 
the  quill  end  with  the  right  thumb  and  finger  (or 
with  the  tweezers,  if  you  use  it)  and  wind  the  plume 
round  in  front  of  the  wings,  then  back  of  the  wings, 
and  again  as  many  times  as  necessary. 

Some  hackles  are  required  to  be  scant ;  others  are 
bushy,  long  and  full.  In  winding  the  hackle 
feather  round,  take  care  to  have  the  glossy  side  in 
front  to  face  the  eye  of  the  hook. 

There  are  times  when  two  small  hackles  are  bet- 
ter than  a  large  one,  if  the  legs  are  required  to  be 
quite  short.  Long  fibered  hackles  cut  short  are 
too  stumpy  and  blunt. 

During  the  winding  process  the  hackle  plume 
must  never  leave  the  fingers  or  pliers;  for  if  left 
to  itself  it  will  unwind  like  a  spring.  When  the 
last  turn  is  made,  force  the  quill  end  of  the  plume 
by  the  little  finger  under  the  body  toward  the  bend 
of  the  hook;  then  secure  tightly  with  winding  silk 
by  means  of  two  or  more  turns  and  half  hitch. 

If  the  tie-off  seems  to  be  not  quite  secure,  and  a 
stiff  plume  quill  is  more  needful  for  a  stout  tie-off, 
it  is  wise  to  put  on  a  piece  of  wax  the  size  of  a  pin- 
head  over  the  tie.  Then  varnish,  using  a  fine- 
pointed  sable-brush,  as  used  by  artists. 

121 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

To  tie  on  wings  for  a  dun  or  flat-winged  fly,  the 
pair  of  wings,  after  being  made  the  right  shape  and 
size,  should  be  evenly  placed  on  top  of  thorax  or 
shoulders,  with  stumps  over  the  eyes.  If  the  wings 
are  wanted  to  lie  at  the  sides,  arrange  them  so  that 
they  lie  farther  down  the  side  of  the  body;  then 
hold  them  firm  and  flat  while  you  fasten  them  se- 
cure with  tying  silk,  as  before  described. 

To  make  a  detached  body :  I  make  this  separate 
from  the  hook,  tying  the  material  ( be  it  quill,  horse- 
hair, or  silk)  round  a  piece  of  boar's  bristle,  double 
or  single,  according  to  thickness  of  body  required. 
I  sometimes  use  up  quills  of  small-sized  feathers 
stripped  clean.  These  small  quills  are  not  quite  so 
firm  or  solid,  but  they  suffice.  After  the  body  is 
wound  and  tied  it  is  quite  easy  to  fasten  it  to  the 
hook  at  any  angle  desired.  Sometimes  I  wish  to 
make  the  tail  erect  from  the  hook  a  short  distance : 
I  then  work  in  a  bristle  by  overwinding  from  the 
thorax. 

Though  I  have  left  the  wisks  or  tail  fibers  to  be 
mentioned  last,  they  should  always  be  fastened  on 
first,  under  all  other  materials,  whether  they  are  to 
be  at  the  head,  for  horns,  or  at  the  tail.  It  is  very 
necessary  that  wisks  be  correct  as  to  number,  size, 
and  color.  The  right  wisks,  I  am  sure,  make  a 
great  difference  in  your  fly  as  to  deceiving  a  trout. 

I  am  a  strong  advocate  of  the  use  of  tinsel.  It  is 
used  in  nearly  all  my  new  patterns,  because  the  un- 

122 


THE  MAKING  OF  AN  ARTIFICIAL  FLY 

der  bodies  of  all  flies  are  very  light,  either  silvery 
or  golden  in  color.  The  glint  of  bright  tinsel  must 
attract  attention. 

What  I  desire  most  is  to  impress  upon  anglers 
that  to  tie  their  own  flies  enhances  tenfold  the  de- 
light in  their  craft.  I  don't  think  money  is  saved; 
it  is  far  cheaper  to  buy  the  commercial  flies  offered 
by  the  tackle  men  than  to  provide  the  materials,  in- 
cluding the  hooks,  to  say  nothing  of  the  valuable 
time  spent  in  making  the  flies.  But  there  is  an- 
other side  to  the  question :  the  fun  of  killing  a  trout 
with  a  fly  tied  by  yourself  from  the  natural  insect 
is  an  achievement  far  more  satisfactory  than  catch- 
ing a  fish  with  an  imported  or  domestic  fly  made 
by  other  hands.  The  ardent  fisherman,  wise  and 
expert,  knows  by  the  time  and  season  just  what  flies 
are  hatching  out  and  on  the  wing;  if  he  makes  his 
own  flies,  he  provides  accordingly. 


123 


XIII 


A  TEST  OF  THE  NEW  FLIES 


If  the  angler  will  take  pains  to  notice  he  will 
perceive  that  I  have  used  great  care  to  depict  each 
of  the  varied  insects  in  its  most  characteristic  atti- 
tude when  it  alights  on  the  water's  surface  or  on 
some  other  object,  so  that  he  may  more  readily 
identify  each  specimen  and  thus  become  more  fa- 
miliar with  trout  insects.  Had  I  shown  them  in 
spread-wing  fashion,  like  that  familiar  in  scientific 
books  on  entomology,  the  different  species  of  each 
class  would  be  so  much  alike  as  to  be  impossible  of 
identification. 

If  we  carefully  observe  some  of  the  drakes  as  they 
lie  at  rest  underneath  a  smooth  rock  at  the  water's 
edge — always  at  the  side  on  which  the  sun  is  shining 
and  opposite  to  where  the  cold  wind  blows — it  will 
be  seen  that  the  wings,  feet,  and  cocked  tail  never 

124. 


A  TEST  OF  THE  NEW  FLIES 

vary  or  change,  as  do  those  of  land  insects.  The 
wings  never  separate,  or  lie  apart;  the  tail  never 
loses  its  jaunty,  upright  appearance;  and  the  feet 
assume  the  same  position  while  resting.  This  is 
true  also  of  browns  and  duns:  they  never  lift  the 
wings  up,  nor  spread  them  out,  but  always  their 
wings  lie  flat  on  the  body  when  they  are  not  in  flight. 

The  test  of  my  new  patterns  that  have  been  made 
are  most  gratifying  to  me  personally;  and  I  sin- 
cerely trust  that  anglers  in  various  localities  will 
select  just  a  few  of  the  copies  of  the  natural  insects 
and  try  them;  I  care  not  upon  what  conditions, 
though  the  result  will  be  much  more  pleasing  to  all 
concerned  if  the  flies  are  used  at  the  specified  time 
given  in  the  plate  charts.  Even  if  tried  otherwise 
— that  is,  any  fly  cast  at  any  time — trout  will,  I 
think,  be  induced  to  rise  sooner  than  with  the  best 
fancy  fly. 

It  would  be  a  very  different  thing  were  I  endeav- 
oring to  urge  upon  my  brother  anglers  any  new 
fancy  flies,  new  inventions,  unusual  or  freak  flies. 
I  see  this  being  done  every  season,  much  to  their 
disadvantage  and  my  own.  But  the  wise  angler,  I 
hope,  will  see  the  object  of  this  book:  to  make  an- 
glers for  trout  follow  a  scientific  method  of  the 
highest  importance  whereby  we  attain  the  best  there 
is  in  angling. 

When  this  work  was  begun  several  years  ago, 
entirely  for  my  own  private  benefit,  I  saw  in  it  great 

125 


AMERICAN  TROUT-STREAM  INSECTS 

possibilities  for  good  if  the  method — going  back 
to  nature — could  be  adopted  universally.  If  the 
method  does  not  become  universally  popular,  I  have 
lost  nothing;  I  shall  be  the  sole,  yes,  solitary,  gainer. 


126 


\ 


PART  II 
NEW  ARTIFICIAL  NATURE  LURES 


127 


INTRODUCTORY  NOTE 

CONCERNING  THE  RAPIDLY  DIMINISHING  NAT- 
URAL FOOD  OF  FRESH-WATER  GAME  FISHES 


It  is  interesting  to  note  that  the  anglers'  so- 
called  game  fishes  are  all  edible,  and  the  gamiest 
of  all — trout  and  salmon — are  the  most  highly 
prized  as  food  for  man.  For  that  reason  alone, 
they  should  be  encouraged  to  a  larger  growth  and 
greater  abundance. 

In  Dame  Nature's  bountiful  supply  of  food  for 
man,  it  is  fish,  above  all  others,  that  live  to  eat. 
From  babyhood  to  adult  stage  their  only  object  in 
life  is  eating.  Other  creatures — animals,  birds, 
and  insects — devote  part  of  their  time  to  trimming 
fur  and  feathers,  building  abodes,  and  maternity, 
with  many  other  duties  necessary  to  their  well- 
being.  It  is  not  so  with  fishes;  their  entire  time  is 
devoted  to  the  sole  object  of  getting  food — with 
one  or  two  exceptions.  So  it  is  undeniable  that  all 
fish  are  wont  to  haunt  places  where  food  can  be  ob- 

129 


NEW  ARTIFICIAL  NATURE  LURES 

tained  in  the  greatest  abundance,  and  that  they 
grow  more  quickly,  attaining  greater  size,  in  such 
localities. 

If  you  take  two  six-inch  trout  in  the  spring,  place 
one  in  a  mountain  brook  where  food  is  always  lim- 
ited, and  the  other  in  a  large  river  where  various 
kinds  of  food  are  usually  plentiful,  by  fall  the  river 
trout  will  have  gained  half  a  pound,  while  the  trout 
in  the  brook  gains  but  an  ounce.  It  is  precisely  the 
same  as  fattening  hogs  and  feeding  up  chickens  for 
market. 

If  you  feed  a  trout  upon  artificial  food — liver, 
chopped  meats,  etc. — the  effect  is  apparent  in  its 
lack  of  gamy  resistance  during  capture  on  fly  or 
bait,  and  in  the  taste  of  its  flesh  when  consumed  as 
food  for  man.  It  is  as  "water  unto  wine,"  com- 
pared with  the  wild  trout  fed  by  nature's  bounty. 

The  natural  food  of  game  fishes  is  quite  varied, 
and  cannot  be  propagated  by  artificial  means.  If 
the  supply  of  food  be  much  curtailed,  game  fish 
move — if  they  can — to  new  pastures ;  or,  when  con- 
fined to  a  given  space,  they  will  eat  each  other. 
They  are  very  acute  in  their  search  and  capture  of 
food,  and  never  seem  to  be  satiated  or  satisfied. 
Both  trout  and  bluefish,  gorged  nearly  to  suffoca- 
tion, readily  respond  to  a  lure. 

The  natural  food  of  fresh-water  game  fishes,  val- 
uable according  to  the  order  named,  are :  insects  that 
fly  above  and  on  the  water ;  their  larva?,  that  live  and 

130 


INTRODUCTORY  NOTE 

creep  on  the  bottom,  to  rise  through  the  water  to 
the  surface  to  attain  maturity ;  a  variety  of  minnows 
and  young  fish  food;  crawfish,  helgramites,  lamper 
eels,  frogs,  grasshoppers  and  caterpillars. 

It  will  be  seen  that  if  man  permits  nature  to  work 
its  own  way,  these  creatures,  by  feeding  on  each 
other  ( though  in  some  instances  multiplying  in  vast 
numbers),  are  kept  down  to  a  reasonable  extent, 
and  the  balance  of  living  things  is  about  evened  up. 
It  is  rare  indeed  in  our  day  to  find  a  glut,  or  an  over- 
production of  any  one  species  of  fish,  or  fish  food, 
like  we  used  to  observe  in  days  gone  by.  Numer- 
ous reasons  may  be  cited  to  explain  this,  but  the 
principal  reason  is  a  decided  shrinkage  of  fish  food, 
these  live  baits  being  captured  in  great  quantities 
for  the  ever-increasing  army  of  anglers.  Ten  per 
cent.,  possibly,  are  consumed  by  game  fish;  the  rest 
destroyed.  Similar  conditions  prevail  with  sea 
food  used  in  marine  fishing. 

Fresh-water  fish  food  can  now  be  procured  only 
in  limited  quantities.  Minnows  and  frogs  are  pro- 
tected— as  they  should  be — by  stringent  laws. 

In  times  past  live  minnows  were  ten  cents  a  score ; 
now  they  are  fifty  cents,  and  not  always  to  be  got; 
indeed,  they  are  in  places  difficult  to  procure  at  any 
price.  Thirty  crawfish  are  a  fair  day's  bait  for  bass 
fishing;  after  a  few  days'  hunt,  the  brook  from 
which  you  get  them  becomes  wofully  scarce  if  other 
anglers  seek   supplies  from  the  same  place.     In 

131 


NEW  ARTIFICIAL  NATURE  LURES 

olden  times  we  could  soon  dig  a  day's  supply  of 
lampher  eels  from  the  sand-bars  at  the  bend  of  the 
river  where  they  abide ;  but  the  constant  digging  for 
them  by  numerous  anglers  keeps  the  supply  at  a 
very  low  ebb,  and  it  is  now  useless  to  spend  the  time. 
These  conditions  will  not  improve  in  the  future; 
they  will  rapidly  grow  worse.  The  time  is  not  far 
off  when  the  securing  of  live  bait  for  game  fishes 
will  be  an  utter  impossibility;  when  fishes  will  be 
stunted  in  growth,  their  supply  curtailed,  in  some 
cases  absolutely  cut  off.  Of  course,  this  is  a  big 
country — changes  are  slow;  but  they  are  sure. 


132 


XIV 
NEW  LURES  THAT  ARE  TRUE  TO  LIFE 

It  was  originally  intended  to  issue  trout-stream 
insects  in  book  form  a  year  ago,  but  the  articles  con- 
tributed to  Forest  and  Stream  on  nature  lures  re- 
ceived such  a  wide  and  cordial  approval  from  a  large 
number  of  anglers  all  over  the  United  States  and 
Canada  that  it  was  thought  wise  to  incorporate  the 
two  subjects  in  one  volume,  especially  as  many  an- 
glers practise  both  lure  and  fly  fishing.  Indeed, 
the  writer's  desire  is  to  induce  anglers  to  fish  with 
a  sane  lure  as  they  would  a  fly,  in  order  to  raise 
that  method  of  fishing  to  a  higher  plane. 

To  that  end,  a  systematic  study  was  begun  of 
what  game  fish  consume  as  food,  and  careful  pic- 
tures were  made  in  colors  of  the  living  creatures. 
The  next  step  was  to  invent  and  construct  the  best 
possible  imitations  of  them  with  the  limited  ma- 
terials at  command,  so  that  they  might  supersede 
all  others  heretofore  done.     The  following  list  is 

133 


NEW  ARTIFICIAL  NATURE  LURES 

the  result  (each  one  to  be  described  in  detail  in  its 
proper  place)  : 

Floating  minnows  with  quivering  fins.  Craw- 
fish with  a  pliable  tail.  Helgramite  that  floats, 
with  movable  legs.  Frogs  that  both,  float  and  swim. 
Grasshoppers  that  can  be  made  to  skip  on  the  wa- 
ter. Caterpillars  that  float.  Dragon-flies  used  as 
a  dry  fly. 

FEATHER   MINNOWS   FOR   BASS,    PIKE   AND   TROUT 

My  first  efforts  after  the  completion  of  the  work, 
"Natural  Trout  Insects  and  Their  Artificial  Imi- 
tations," was  to  make  a  new  minnow,  to  be  cast  like 
a  fly  and  reeled  in  like  a  minnow.  I  then  deter- 
mined, for  my  own  satisfaction,  to  continue  in  the 
effort  to  get  something  new,  and  true  to  nature,  in 
the  shape  of  a  feather  minnow  for  bass — one 
weighted  for  bottom  fishing,  and  one  light  for  sur- 
face fishing.  In  recent  years  it  has  been  my  im- 
pression that  minnows  (certainly  the  best  all-round 
natural  bait  for  game  fishes)  have  not  yet  been  per- 
fectly imitated  so  as  to  be  a  universal  success  for 
either  bass  or  trout. 

A  hard  substance,  like  wood,  metal,  or  quill,  sur- 
rounded by  a  fierce  array  of  treble  hooks,  would  not 
allure  me,  were  I  a  bass  or  a  trout,  in  place  of  a  soft, 
fleshy  young  fish.  Before  describing  the  feather 
lure,  I  must  explain  that  in  the  trials  I  have  made 
of  the  artificial  minnows  now  on  the  market  they 

134 


FEATHER    MINNOWS   FOR    BASS     PIKE   AXD   TROUT 


NEW  LURES  THAT  ARE  TRUE  TO  LIFE 

are  not  successful  in  the  waters  I  favor — that  is,  a 
deep  sluggish  river  with  rocky  bottom,  like  the  lower 
Beaverkill  and  the  upper  Delaware  round  about 
East  Branch. 

I  have  repeatedly  seen  bass  follow  up  various 
artificial  lures  for  some  distance  without  making  a 
strike.  The  same  thing  happens,  at  times,  with  the 
painted  minnows  with  metal  fins  to  make  them  spin. 
On  the  other  hand,  with  a  supply  of  live  minnows, 
crawfish,  or  lampers,  one  can  go  to  a  pool  and  often 
capture  a  dozen  bass  that  will  average  over  two 
pounds'  weight,  almost  any  time  of  day  in  late  July, 
August  and  September.  But  live  bait  in  sufficient 
quantities  is  most  difficult  to  procure. 

This  non-success  of  hooking  a  fish  is  not  due  to 
my  inability  in  casting  a  lure.  I  can  cast  a  lure, 
as  I  do  a  fly,  dry  or  wet,  quite  delicately  and  far 
enough  to  catch  bass  or  trout.  Others  have  had  the 
same  experience.  I  met  a  man  wading  the  stream, 
casting  a  wooden  painted  lure  of  well-known  make, 
and  I  could  see  by  the  way  he  cast  that  he  was  ex- 
pert at  the  game.  In  answer  to  my  question, 
"What  luck?"  he  said  that  he  had  not  got  a  single 
strike.  I  took  him  to  a  sand-bar  nearby,  and  a  con- 
veniently hidden  spade,  and  together  we  dug  a  few 
lamper  eels.  He  immediately  caught  a  three- 
pound  bass.  "Now,"  said  he;  "I  know  bass  are 
here." 

I  have  no  desire  to  try  to  persuade  thousands  of 

135 


NEW  ARTIFICIAL  NATURE  LURES 

bass  fishermen  from  the  use  of  wooden  or  metal 
lures.  The  new  ideas  I  propose  are  primarily  for 
my  own  use  and  pleasure;  but  I  offer  them,  after 
proving  them  good,  to  my  brother  anglers  every- 
where, to  accept  or  decline  as  they  choose. 

Beyond  question  there  are.  a  host  of  anglers,  like 
myself,  sick  and  tired  of  testing  new  devices  and 
ideas  that  lately  flood  the  market  claiming  under 
various  pretenses  to  be  perfect  killers.  I  do  not 
deny  their  value  or  usefulness  under  certain  condi- 
tions and  methods  of  fishing.  The  aim  and  object 
of  my  work  is  to  imitate  both  flies  and  lures  as 
nearly  as  possible  like  the  natural  food  game  fishes 
consume.  This  principle,  everybody  must  agree,  is 
a  good  and  right  one. 

In  describing  this  feather  minnow,  the  larger  of 
the  two  is  selected  from  a  great  many  different 
kinds  I  have  made.  The  body  is  soft,  though  solid, 
and  wound  over  a  long,  powerful  single  hook,  which 
curves  under  the  tail,  making  the  hook  partly  invisi- 
ble from  below.  A  double  hook,  smaller  in  size,  is 
placed  under  the  fore  part  of  the  belly,  hidden  by 
two  pectoral  fins  of  speckled  cock's  hackle.  In  my 
first  efforts  I  placed  the  double  hook  on  top,  near 
the  tail,  hidden  by  a  stiff  dorsal  fin  of  turkey -wing 
feather,  cut  to  shape.  But  this,  I  found,  would 
interfere  with  the  minnow's  floating  belly  down — 
a  position  absolutely  necessary  in  the  water.  Al- 
though this  would  be  a  more  effective  hold  when  the 

136 


NEW  LURES  THAT  ARE  TRUE  TO  LIFE 

fish  grabbed  it,  and  looked  more  natural  as  a  min- 
now, I  was  forced  to  place  the  double  hook  under- 
neath to  get  the  upright  attitude  while  moving  in 
the  water. 

The  upper  back  and  head  are  colored  in  alternate 
stripes  of  black,  green,  and  brown.  The  tail,  made 
of  the  feather  tip  of  turkey's  tail,  is  of  bright,  metal- 
lic luster,  edged  in  white.  Graduating  from  the 
back  along  the  sides  are  two  stripes  of  green  and 
blue  which  fade  into  a  perfectly  white  belly.  The 
whole  is  wound  in  silver  to  imitate  the  shiny  scales. 
This  larger  size  minnow  is  weighted  to  fish  sunk  in 
deep  water,  though  not  too  heavy  to  be  cast  with  a 
fly-rod. 

The  smaller  size  minnow,  No.  2,  is  like  No.  1  in 
color;  but  the  body,  being  made  of  cork,  is  some- 
what wide  at  the  shoulders.  The  bodies,  well 
padded  to  stand  being  chewed  by  the  fish,  are  made 
of  colored  wool  and  mohair.  A  feature  of  great 
value  in  this  minnow  is  that,  while  solid  enough,  it 
is  sufficiently  soft  for  the  teeth  of  the  bass  to  pre- 
vent his  being  scared  as  he  would  be  on  such  a  hard 
substance  as  wood  or  metal,  which  is  the  chief  ob- 
jection to  be  found  in  those  lures. 

No.  3  feather  minnow  is  smaller  and  is  light 
enough  to  be  cast  like  a  fly  and  reeled  in  like  a  min- 
now. You  can  swim  it  near  the  surface  in  shallow 
water.  You  can  cast  it  down  a  swift  runway  and 
swim  it  back  to  any  depth,  according  to  the  speed 

137 


NEW  ARTIFICIAL  NATURE  LURES 

you  reel.  You  can  weight  it  to  cast  out  to  the  bot- 
tom of  deep  pools  and  reel  slowly  in ;  or  you  can  use 
it  as  it  is  at  the  surface  of  a  pool.  No  matter  if  the 
game  be  bass  or  trout,  pickerel  or  pike,  wall-eye  or 
perch,  big  dace  or  chub,  it  is  equally  serviceable  for 
all. 

A  few  of  the  good  points  I  claim  for  these  min- 
nows are : 

( 1 )  Fidelity  in  size,  form,  and  color  to  a  real,  live 
minnow. 

( 2 )  Hooks  so  placed  as  to  hold  fast,  without  scar- 
ing away  the  fish. 

(3)  Fish  find  a  similarity  in  touch  to  the  flesh  of 
a  minnow. 

( 4 )  Light  enough  to  be  cast  like  a  fly  with  trout- 
rod  and  tackle. 

(5)  Most  desirable  of  all,  fish  will  strike  it  in 
plain  view  of  the  angler,  as  they  do  at  a  fly. 


138 


XV 

SHINY  DEVILS 

Gold-  and  Silver-bodied  Fancy  Minnows  for  Salmon, 
Big  Trout,  and  Bass 

In  studying  these  minnows  from  every  stand- 
point and  developing  them  so  as  to  make,  as  per- 
fectly as  can  be,  practical,  all-round  sensible  lures 
for  our  native  game  fishes,  and  following  my  efforts 
to  produce  an  exact  copy  of  a  natural  minnow  in  a 
soft  yet  solid  material,  I  conceived  the  idea  of  mak- 
ing some  "fancy"  minnows — shiny  devils,  by  name 
— where  no  effort  is  made  to  imitate  the  minnow 
except  in  the  under  body  or  belly.  This  is  contrary 
to  my  often  expressed,  determined  belief  that  it  is 
best  in  every  instance  to  copy  nature. 

I  do  it  for  this  reason :  After  testing  them  side 
by  side  with  imitation  minnows  (both  floating  and 
sunken)  I  shall  have  tangible  proof  which  of  them 
game  fish  most  prefer ;  though  I  imagine  that,  while 

139 


NEW  ARTIFICIAL  NATURE  LURES 

these  fancy  minnows  look  more  attractive  and 
beautiful  to  our  eyes,  the  natural  imitation  will  win 
out,  just  as  nature  flies  have  done  and  will  do  over 
fancy  flies. 

Seven  years  ago  I  wrote  an  illustrated  magazine 
article  with  the  title,  "Try  Bass  and  Trout  Flies 
with  Metal  Bodies."  It  described  how  I  invented 
four  flies,  two  with  gold  and  two  with  silver  bodies, 
having  black,  brown,  gray,  and  white  wings.  Re- 
cently there  appeared  a  magazine  article  on  dry 
flies,  in  which  the  writer  stated,  "These  metal-body 
flies  are  still  in  use  and  are  far  superior  to  old 
favorites."  Personally,  I  have  discarded  them  for 
my  more  recent  "nature  flies,"  which  I  consider  are 
as  far  as  can  be  got  in  the  right  direction. 

When  I  showed  the  feather  minnow  to  a  member 
of  a  well-known  tackle  firm  he  said,  "There  is  noth- 
ing new  under  the  sun,"  and  placed  before  me  a 
bass  minnow  (tarnished  with  age)  made  and  used 
forty  years  ago;  thus  proving  my  often-repeated 
statement  that  we  have  gone  backward  in  the  mak- 
ing of  lures,  so  far  as  nature  is  concerned.  This 
old  minnow  has  a  tail  of  peacock's  harl,  with  stripes 
along  the  back  of  red,  black,  and  green  wool.  The 
belly  is  common  tinfoil,  the  whole  wound  over  with 
silver  tinsel.  I  asked  permission  to  copy  it,  and  the 
result  is  seen  in  No.  1  of  the  six  shown  on  the  page 
of  illustrations  for  this  chapter.  The  only  altera- 
tion I  made  was  the  additional  plume,  giving  a  more 

140 


GOLD   AND  SILVER-BODIED  FANCY   MINNOWS  FOR   SALMON.   BIG  TROUT  AND  BASS 


SHINY  DEVILS 

shapely  body.  With  the  exception  of  a  solid  silver 
body,  this  shiny  devil  is  the  same,  or  nearly  so,  as 
the  smaller  sized  feather  minnow  with  white  under 
body.  This  shiny  devil  has  proved  exceptionally 
good,  better  even  than  the  feather  minnow  because 
of  the  brilliant  solid  silver  body. 

In  No.  2  the  entire  head  and  body  is  wound  with 
silver  twist  and  tinsel,  the  tail  is  a  speckled  guinea 
fowl's  feather,  and  the  plume  is  of  green  harl 
and  wood  duck  tips. 

No.  3  has  a  solid  gold  upper  and  under  body,  the 
tail  is  a  deep  orange  breast  feather  of  ruffed  grouse 
tipped  in  white. 

No.  4  has  a  solid  silver  body,  with  a  tail  of  white 
downy  feather  of  the  loon,  and  a  very  bushy  plume 
of  mixed  feathers. 

No.  5  is  a  smaller  devil,  with  solid  silver  body  and 
green  head.  The  plume  is  made  of  the  wing  feather 
tip  of  the  quail,  and  the  tail  is  made  of  tail  feathers 
of  ruffed  grouse. 

No.  6  is  the  largest — a  shining  mass  of  gold  from 
head  to  tail,  except  the  eye,  which  is  green.  The 
plume  is  the  beautiful  chocolate  and  orange  feather 
of  Egyptian  quail,  with  a  red  cock's  hackle  for  tail. 

Even  a  detailed  description  fails  to  give  one-half 
the  beauty  of  color  in  these  minnows. 

In  testing  some  of  these  unusual  and  original 
lures  I  have  experienced  some  rare  good  sport  with 
three  species  of  game  fish,  viz. :  trout,  bass,  and  wall- 

141 


NEW  ARTIFICIAL  NATURE  LURES 

eye.  In  a  later  chapter  I  shall  describe  the  suc- 
cessful tests — not  so  frequent  nor  so  thorough  as  I 
hope  them  to  be  another  season,  nevertheless  suffi- 
cient to  convince  anglers  that  these  minnows  are 
worthy  to  rank  as  lasting  lures. 

When  dry,  the  shiny  devils  appear  somewhat  sim- 
ilar to  the  regulation  salmon  flies;  but  it  must  be 
remembered  that  these  plumes,  when  wet,  cling 
close  to  the  back  of  the  lure,  thus  forming  a  dark 
varicolored  upper  body  that  resembles  a  minnow 
far  better  wet  than  dry. 

It  is  well  known  that  two  of  the  most  deadly  ma- 
terials in  use  by  fly-makers  are  shining  metal  and 
peacock's  harl;  in  fact,  upon  some  English  rivers, 
the  "Alexandra  fly"  and  similar  lures  made  from 
these  materials  are  not  allowed  in  fishing,  because 
of  the  supposed  "unfair"  dead  sure  killing. 

In  the  manufacture  of  flies,  minnows,  and  other 
lures,  many  changes  have  been  made  during  the  last 
forty  years ;  but,  to  my  mind,  they  have  not  been  im- 
provements upon  the  old  and  better  lures.  I  be- 
lieve the  tendency  of  modern  lures  is  in  the  wrong 
direction.  Highly  polished,  vividly  colored  crea- 
tures, of  a  hard,  machine-made  material,  describing 
all  kinds  of  acrobatic  water  stunts,  are  directly  op- 
posite to  and  lack  the  artistic  handiwork  of  those 
beautiful  lures  which  in  bygone  days  gave  better 
results,  I  am  told  by  well-known  expert  bass  fish- 
ermen of  fifty  years'  experience. 

142 


SHINY  DEVILS 

Goethe  says,  "Encourage  the  beautiful;  the  use- 
ful will  take  care  of  itself." 

My  theory  is  that  the  useful  lure  is  the  one  which 
gets  the  fish  to  imagine  it  is  taking  its  natural  food 
and  grasps  hold  when  the  fish  strikes.  In  other 
words,  a  useful  lure,  to  be  a  good  one,  must  be  made 
upon  the  basic  principle  of  an  imitation,  in  some 
way  or  other,  of  the  natural  food  of  the  fish,  gamy 
or  otherwise. 

Of  course,  if  these  soft  metal-body  devils  are 
found  by  other  anglers  to  be  more  effective  for  bet- 
ter sport  and  larger  fish  than  is  possible  with  the 
prevailing  plug  lures  arranged  in  many  barbed 
hooks,  it  will  be  a  great  gain  in  many  ways. 

To  be  candid,  there  is  one  serious  drawback  to 
these  shining  lures,  viz. :  a  tendency  of  the  metal  to 
tarnish  and  lose  its  brightness  after  being  wet.  For 
this  I  can  find  no  remedy  except  to  dry  them  care- 
fully after  being  used,  and  to  keep  them  wrapped 
up  from  light  and  air.  I  have  tried  the  best  im- 
ported metal  twist  and  tinsel;  and  it  is  no  advantage 
to  use  pure  silver,  as  it  is  the  most  quickly  tarnished. 
The  tinsel  is  made  much  brighter,  when  tarnished, 
by  the  careful  application  of  a  little  metal  polish. 
It  is  quite  different  with  the  feathers;  they  are  all 
natural  and  undyed,  and  both  their  form  and  color 
are  retained  after  very  hard,  rough  usage. 


143 


XVI 

NATURE  LURES  FOR  SUMMER  FISHING 

Imitations,  of   Minnows,   Grasshoppers,   Dragon-flies 
and  Caterpillars 

In  the  course  of  my  study  and  development  of 
minnows,  it  is  natural  that  a  seeker  after  truth  and 
perfection  should  make  some  advances.  But  in 
time  the  improvements  get  to  a  stage  whereby  ac- 
curate imitation,  as  to  both  form,  and  action  in  the 
water,  is  attained.  This  I  believe  will  be  found  in 
my  quivering-fin  minnows  shown  in  the  accompany- 
ing photograph. 

It  would  be  madness  for  even  the  very  foolish  to 
deny  that  game  fish  seek  localities  where  food  is 
most  abundant;  also,  to  deny  that  fish  will  and  do 
prefer  lures  and  baits  like  the  regular  food  they  are 
wont  to  eat.  My  theory  is,  give  a  fish  the  food  it 
likes ;  if  that  is  not  possible,  then  offer  an  imitation 
of  that  food,  as  nearly  as  it  can  be  made  with  the 
materials  at  command. 

144 


SI 

X  e 
J.    =( 

13    ea 

S  g 

O   5- 


«  e 
P  jS 


NATURE  LURES  FOR  SUMMER  FISHING 

This  I  am  endeavoring  to  do  to  the  best  of  my 
ability.  An  artist  is  particularly  favored  in  that 
he  can  (with  more  or  less  success)  copy  nature,  and 
after  patient  effort  produce  what  less-favored  per- 
sons would  scarce  attempt. 

All  rivers  or  bodies  of  water  contain  certain  kinds 
of  fish  food  that  preponderate  over  others.  Lakes 
of  deep  water  and  few  weeds  have  an  abundance 
of  minnows  and  few  frogs.  Shallow  lakes,  with 
plenty  of  weeds,  grass,  lilies,  and  scum,  breed  frogs, 
dragon-flies,  grasshoppers,  and  much  other  surface 
food.  Rivers  that  have  muddy  and  sandy  bottoms 
breed  entirely  different  insects  from  those  rivers 
with  rocky  or  pebbly  bottoms.  And,  whatever  the 
water  conditions  are,  the  food  varies  considerably 
according  to  season.  Just  as  the  summer's  heat 
gets  powerful,  aquatic  insects  become  smaller  and 
scarcer.  Then  nature  supplies  certain  fish  food  of 
a  larger  kind.  After  June  the  water  is  thick  with 
the  larvae  of  various  big  stone-flies  and  dragon-flies; 
the  land  in  close  proximity  to  the  water  is  fairly 
alive  with  grasshoppers  (winged  and  wingless) ,  and 
the  river  and  lakeside  trees  are  loaded  with  different 
species  of  caterpillars.  It  is  quite  true  that  from 
early  spring  to  late  fall,  minnows  certainly  do  form 
the  major  part  of  fish  diet.  But  minnows  are  sharp 
enough  to  haunt  the  shallows  where  big  fish  fear  to 
go.  It  is  only  during  the  night  time  in  summer  that 
large  fish  prowl  around  the  sides  to  get  them. 

145 


NEW  ARTIFICIAL  NATURE  LURES 

The  minnows  here  shown  are  in  some  respects  an 
advance  on  the  feather  minnows  previously  de- 
scribed. They  are  much  harder  to  make,  because 
the  two  parts  are  separately  constructed,  the  back 
of  cork,  and  the  belly  of  wood.  They  are  so  made 
that  they  float  upright  and  require  less  movement 
in  playing;  in  fact,  fish  have  taken  them  while  per- 
fectly still  in  repose.  I  discarded  the  plume,  which 
forms  a  prominent  feature  of  the  feather  minnow, 
and  used  a  pair  of  quivering  feathers  placed  at  the 
forward  sides  of  the  body  as  pectoral  fins. 

This  minnow  will  be  found  most  effective  when 
cast  downstream,  then  gradually  reeled  back  from 
side  to  side  of  the  river,  covering  as  much  water  as 
possible. 

I  am  confident  no  minnow  heretofore  invented  is 
so  deadly  as  anglers  will  find  this  lure  to  be  if  fished 
in  the  method  I  describe.  My  sole  object  has  been 
to  study  and  investigate  how  to  get  the  best  sport, 
the  largest  fish — which  are  always  hardest  to  cap- 
ture— in  the  highest  and  most  skilful  manner,  and 
to  supply  the  means.  In  order  to  accomplish  this 
I  have  during  the  last  three  years  made  careful  color 
pictures  of  every  kind  of  food  that  game  fish  eat, 
and  I  now  have  what  I  hope  will  be  considered  by 
anglers  a  complete  line  of  nature  lures,  as  perfect  in 
appearance  and  action  as  it  is  possible  to  make  by 
hand. 

A  live  grasshopper  that  floats  downstream  in  the 

146 


NATURE  LURES  FOR  SUMMER  FISHING 

daytime  has  little  chance  to  go  far  before  it  is  seized 
by  the  first  large  fish  in  sight.  If  you  hook  one  and 
float  it  alive — nay,  if  you  do  so  half  a  dozen  times — 
you  will  see  how  cleverly  the  fish  nip  the  grasshop- 
per off  without  touching  the  hook.  This  smart 
trick  is  not  so  easy  with  my  nature  lure  grasshopper, 
which  is  made  to  float  standing  upright  on  the  sur- 
face. If  you  cast  it  out  where  trout  lie,  either  on 
a  clear,  glassy  surface,  or  down  a  rippling  runway, 
you  should  use  a  fine  six-foot  gut  leader  strong 
enough  to  hold  a  bass  or  trout.  Attach  the  leader 
neatly  to  the  bait  without  any  additional  feature — 
spoons,  sinkers  or  other  attractions — playing  the 
rod-tip  so  that  the  bait  skips  along  in  short  jumps, 
to  imitate  the  natural  insect  when  by  accident  it  falls 
on  the  water.  Strike  instantly  the  bait  is  taken; 
for  the  fish  can  immediately  tell  the  difference  be- 
tween artificial  and  live  bait. 

The  advantage  of  grasshopper  fishing  is  that  none 
but  large  fish  will  go  for  it.  Also,  you  may  fish 
with  fairly  good  success  on  hot,  sultry  days,  when 
flies  are  not  so  effective;  though  evening  fishing  is, 
as  always,  the  best,  because  both  trout  and  bass  are 
at  that  time  more  active  in  their  search  for  food. 

The  dragon-fly,  of  which  there  are  two  sizes 
made,  will  be  found  best  to  use  as  an  ordinary  fly. 
Cast  it  out  on  the  surface  to  float  a  while,  whip  it  off 
again  without  being  wetted,  and  keep  repeating  the 
cast  to  different  places.     This  fly  is  so  light  that  it 

147 


NEW  ARTIFICIAL  NATURE  LURES 

can  easily  be  cast  among  the  weeds  and  lily  pads, 
where  it  will  be  taken  greedily  by  large  perch,  pick- 
erel, bass,  and  pike.  For  river  fishing,  almost  any 
plan  will  induce  a  rise  where  fish  happen  to  be. 

Modern  anglers  do  not,  I  believe,  take  a  fancy 
to  caterpillar  fishing,  probably  because  there  are 
no  good  imitations.  They  do  use  the  brown  and 
black  hackle  fly  of  various  sizes,  these  being  sup- 
posed to  imitate  the  brown  and  black  hairy  caterpil- 
lars so  abundant  in  early  spring  and  summer.  Sev- 
enty years  ago,  in  the  time  of  Ronalds,  excellent 
caterpillar  imitations  were  made  and  used;  not  in 
the  shape  of  a  fly,  but  copied  with  fidelity  and  truth 
from  the  natural  insect.  The  samples  here  shown 
are  brown,  black,  and  gray,  the  two  former  being 
most  plentiful  in  the  spring  and  the  latter  in  late 
summer  and  fall.  They  should,  like  the  grasshop- 
per, be  attached  to  a  long  fine  leader,  and  floated 
leisurely  along  the  surface  under  which  trout  may 
lie. 

A  short  description,  including  the  colors,  of  the 
varied  lures  here  illustrated  will  give  the  angler  a 
better  idea  of  their  value. 

No.  1  is  a  copy  of  the  silver  shiner  or  dace.  The 
belly  is  of  solid  silver,  being  wound  alternately  with 
silver  twist  and  tinsel.  Along  the  sides  is  a  strip  of 
vivid  green  and  blue,  which  tones  down  after  being 
wet.  The  back  is  olive  green  with  black  stripes. 
The  quivering  side  pectoral  fins  are  black  and  deep 

148 


NATURE  LURES  FOR  SUMMER  FISHING 

yellow.  This  feature  forms  an  entirely  new  idea 
in  artificial  lures.  However  tranquil  the  water  may 
be,  these  fins  have  a  gentle  waving  motion  that  is 
very  lifelike  and  attractive.  This  is  a  large  min- 
now, and,  as  with  Xo.  3,  it  will  be  found  equally 
killing  for  big  brown  and  other  trout,  bass,  pike,  and 
salmon. 

Xo.  2  imitates  a  small  red-sided  minnow  familiar 
to  fishermen  as  the  red  stickleback.  It  has  a  white 
belly,  red  sides,  and  green  back.  It  has  killed,  and 
is  highly  suitable  for,  good-sized  brook  trout  and 
rainbows. 

Xo.  3  is  similar  in  size  and  shape  to  Xo.  1,  and  is 
a  copy  of  the  redfin  minnow.  The  belly  is  shining 
gold  tinsel,  the  quivering  fins  are  red  and  black,  and 
the  back  is  of  the  same  color,  with  a  stripe  of  pale 
orange  and  green  running  along  the  sides. 

Xo.  4  is  a  very  small  minnow  with  white  belly  and 
olive  back,  and  is  intended  to  represent  the  young 
of  various  species  of  larger  fish. 

Xo.  5  is  a  dragon-fly,  with  a  solid  body  of  cork  re- 
enforced  with  strong  silver  wire  and  wound  tightly 
with  green  raffia.  The  wings  are  feathers  of  snipe. 
The  exceeding  lightness  in  weight  makes  it  possible 
to  cast  like  the  usual  large-sized  fly. 

Xo.  6  is  the  June  green  grasshopper,  made  of 
solid  cork  wound  in  vivid  green  raffia.  It  floats 
upright,  and  the  quivering  back  wings  of  red  cock's 
hackle  make  it  a  choice  irresistible  lure. 

149 


NEW  ARTIFICIAL  NATURE  LURES 

From  the  foregoing  chapters  it  will  be  seen  that 
I  have  made  a  large  variety  of  minnow  baits — as  to 
size,  shape  and  color.  Not  more,  I  believe,  than  is 
warranted  by  so  important  a  part  as  the  minnow 
takes  in  fish  diet;  for  every  angler  will  agree  that 
the  minnow  is  undoubtedly  the  most  popular  lure 
for  all  game  fish,  under  any  condition,  or  in  any  lo- 
cation or  season.  As  the  seasons  come  and  go,  we 
find  live  minnows  scarcer,  more  difficult  to  procure, 
and  the  time  is  near — in  fact,  it  is  here  now — when 
a  good  substitute  is  of  the  greatest  value ;  for  game 
fish  need  all  the  food  that  nature  now  provides,  to 
attain  large  growth  and  still  be  abundant. 


150 


XVII 


ARTIFICIAL  FROGS  THAT  WIGGLE  THEIR 
LEGS  AND  FLOAT 

For  years  I  have  vainly  tried  to  get  a  fish  strike 
on  the  various  imitation  lures,  most  of  them  made 
of  rubber.  ThejT  are  not  only  miserably  poor 
copies  of  nature,  but,  from  their  weight  and  clumsi- 
ness, they  act  in  the  water  as  dead,  inanimate  things. 
No  matter  how  skilfully  they  be  played,  trout  and 
bass  take  not  the  slightest  notice  of  them.  I  would 
as  soon  fish  with  a  "tooth  brush"  at  the  end  of  my 
leader;  there  would  be  more  chances  of  a  strike. 
Most  expert  anglers  will  surely  agree  with  me  in 
this  after  one  trial  of  them.  Particularly  so  of  the 
painted  rubber  frogs,  grasshoppers,  worms,  and 
other  imitations  intended  to  replace  live  bait. 

This  does  not  refer  to  "plug  lures,"  which  are 
not,  I  believe,  intended  to  imitate  any  living  thing. 

To  the  end  that  something  may  be  available  for 
anglers  without  their  having  to  use  live  bait  (so 
hard  to  get,  so  hard  to  keep  fit  for  use)  I  have  spent 

151 


NEW  ARTIFICIAL  NATURE  LURES 

considerable  time  in  study  and  experiments  to  get 
at  just  the  perfect  nature  lure  that  will  appear  and 
act  as  enticing  as  the  natural  food  does  to  bass, 
trout,  and  other  game  fishes. 

A  thoroughly  good  and  useful  article  is  not  usu- 
ally dreamed  of  over  night,  and  completed  the  fol- 
lowing day.  I  made  twenty-three  different  models 
of  this  jumping,  floating  frog,  before  I  reached  the 
desired  result.  Many  hoped-for  improvements 
were  discarded  because  of  some  undesirable  feature. 
These  frogs  and  other  lures  are  the  result  of  con- 
tinuous effort  in  practical  trials  and  experiments  in 
order  to  gain  three  important  points  heretofore  not 
accomplished  and  demonstrate  their  superior  value 
as  lures. 

First:  They  must  be  light  enough  in  weight  to 
cast  with  a  fly-rod,  and  to  float  upright  and  nat- 
urally in  quiet  or  turbulent  water,  yet  strong  enough 
to  be  chewed  and  yet  not  destroyed. 

Second :  They  must  be  soft  to  the  touch,  with' 
out  scaring  the  fish. 

Third:  They  must  have  perfection  in  form  and 
color,  combined  with  a  natural  action  similar  to  live 
bait  when  floating  in  the  water. 

For  these  and  other  reasons,  I  determined  to  get 
for  my  own  use  and  satisfaction,  and  to  give  the 
true  angling  sportsman,  a  lure  to  lure  and  not  to 
scare.  Of  this  I  am  convinced:  if  the  present  style 
of  bass  lures  continues  to  develop,  in  a  few  years' 

152 


.ARTIIK'IAL   FROGS 


LAMPER   EEL   AND    EIELGRAMITE 


I 


ARTIFICIAL  FROGS 

time,  Mr.  Bass,  likewise  Miss  Trout  (both  wise, 
alert,  and  discerning  fish),  will  absolutely  refuse 
chunks  of  wood,  rubber,  or  metal,  of  whatever  shape 
or  however  finely  finished.  They  know  as  well  as 
we  know,  that  such  lures,  tearing  through  the  water 
by  them,  are  not  food.  Their  action  in  taking  them 
is  merely  antagonistic  caprice ;  the  lures  in  time  will 
cease  to  annoy  and  therefore  utterly  fail. 

This  reasoning  is  sound;  for  when  we  miss  a 
strike,  I  know  that  we  never  get  the  same  bass  to  go 
for  the  lure  a  second  time.  When  we  cast  again, 
if  taken,  it  is  sure  to  be  another  bass.  It  is  alto- 
gether different  with  live  bait.  When  a  real  min- 
now, crab,  or  frog  is  gorged,  the  fish  is  ready  and 
willing  for  more ;  the  effect  in  its  stomach  is  obvious 
and  most  pleasing.  It  is  very  natural  to  suppose 
that  Mr.  Bass  is  quite  satisfied  with  but  one  trial  at 
a  piece  of  wood.  The  dullest,  most  stupid  animal 
in  creation  would  undoubtedly  remember  such  a 
base  fraud.  Bass  are  neither  dull  nor  stupid,  but, 
as  Dr.  Henshall  rightly  says,  "the  gamest  fish  that 
swims." 

Furthermore,  to  each  of  these  pieces  of  wood  is 
attached  from  three  to  five  treble  hooks.  It  seems 
impossible  to  imagine  a  true  fisherman  could  be 
found  to  face  his  gamy  antagonist  without  a  blush 
of  shame  while  using  fifteen  barbed  hooks  on  a  sin- 
gle lure.  The  success  of  these  lures  must  be  very 
doubtful  from  the  fact  that  new  and  different  pat- 

153 


NEW  ARTIFICIAL  NATURE  LURES 

terns  succeed  each  other  every  season.  If  a  lure  is 
good  one  season,  it  should  be  so  for  all  time. 

The  majority  of  black  bass  invariably  prefer  to 
abide  near  the  bottom,  in  water  from  four  to  twenty 
feet  deep.  It  is  round  the  shallow  edges  of  rocks, 
sand-bars,  and  edges  of  lakes  where  they  congre- 
gate. They  lie  still  most  of  the  time,  like  other 
game  fishes,  to  pounce  periodically  upon  passing 
prey  during  the  daytime;  then  at  night  they  swim 
about  the  shallows  foraging  for  food.  They  will 
follow  a  lure  some  distance  before  they  grab  it;  in 
fact,  they  often  follow  a  lure  within  two  feet  of  the 
boat,  making  a  grab  after  much  wary  consideration. 
Not  so  with  big  trout.  They  dash  for  a  lure  like 
lightning,  without  careful  observation,  or  any  stop- 
ping to  wonder  what  it  is. 

It  is  just  because  of  these  two  opposite  though 
characteristic  habits  that  my  floating  nature  lures 
will  furnish  anglers  with  new  thrills,  trebling  the 
pleasure  heretofore  enjoyed. 

With  a  stiff,  regulation  fly-rod,  you  can  cast  out 
any  of  these  light  nature  fish-food  imitations.  You 
can  play  it  at  the  surface ;  then  in  full  view  you  can 
watch  the  gamy  fish  go  for  it  and  grab  it.  The 
lure  cannot  drop  like  a  plummet  to  get  snagged 
on  the  bottom;  and  even  a  tyro  caster  may  place  it 
among  the  weeds  without  trouble,  till  it  is  seen  by 
the  fish.  There  is  no  need  of  a  rapid  reel-in;  and 
no  bother  of  line  tangle — which  so  often  happens 

154. 


ARTIFICIAL  FROGS 

when  a  heavy  lure  sinks  to  fasten  its  numerous  dou- 
ble or  treble  hooks  on  a  sunken  tree-trunk.  No 
weedless  hook  is  needed  for  these  lures. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  all  nature  lures  are  pro- 
vided with  but  one  single  hook  of  good  size.  I  con- 
sider treble  hooks  a  bad  feature,  as  only  one  barb 
takes  hold  on  the  fish. 

With  this  preliminary,  I  will  describe  the  frogs 
and  the  simple  method  required  to  use  them.  I 
consider  the  frogs  my  greatest  achievement — so  far 
— because  of  the  difficulties  to  overcome  in  making 
movable  legs  and  in  making  the  shoulders  appear 
above  the  surface  yet  having  the  body  submerged. 

In  constructing  the  frogs  I  copied  the  green 
leopard  frog  for  Eastern  waters,  the  spotted  brown 
pickerel  frog  for  the  Middle  West,  and  the  little 
red-bellied  frog  for  the  Pacific  Coast  States ;  though 
it  is  possible  that  one  or  the  other  may  be  found  use- 
ful in  different  localities.  The  belly  of  the  green 
frog  is  pure  white,  running  to  a  bright  yellow  at  the 
base.  On  the  back,  of  bright  green,  are  irregular 
spots  of  black.  The  pickerel  frog  has  a  white  belly, 
spotted  at  the  base  with  brown,  and  a  brownish 
back  spotted  in  black.  The  Pacific  frog  is  white 
at  the  front,  with  bright  red  at  the  sides,  running 
to  scarlet  spots  at  the  base  of  the  belly.  All  three 
weigh  less  than  a  quarter  of  an  ounce. 

The  size  and  bulk  of  the  frog  are  the  only  objec- 
tions to  its  being  used  as  a  fly.     Nevertheless,  it  can 

155 


NEW  ARTIFICIAL  NATURE  LURES 

be  forced  out,  and  cast  by  the  lightest  trout  rod. 
While  it  rests  on  the  water,  the  slightest  agitation 
of  the  rod-tip  will  make  the  frog  move  its  legs  in 
the  attitude  of  swimming.  It  is  taken  for  granted 
that  anglers  know  that  with  all  artificial  lures  when 
grabbed,  a  rapid,  though  slight,  wrist  movement 
must  at  once  be  made  to  embed  the  hook.  Natural 
bait  is  first  captured,  then  held  in  the  mouth  and 
gorged  at  leisure.  Only  flies  are  gorged  at  once 
when  taken. 

I  have  a  particular  antipathy  to  that  horrible 
method  known  as  "trolling";  and  I  don't  much  en- 
joy or  find  sport  in  "still  fishing" — when  you  sit  in 
a  boat  on  a  lake,  chuck  overboard  a  lot  of  ground- 
bait,  then  drop  to  the  bottom  a  big  night-walker 
worm,  to  shortly  pull  up  a  fat,  lazy  trout,  which 
everybody  says  "can't  be  caught  any  other  way," 
except  on  rare  occasions  in  spring  when  they  do 
sometimes  rise  to  flies. 

I  do  not  believe  these  methods  to  be  the  "only 
way"  to  get  fish  from  deep  water.  I  know  these 
frog  and  minnow  lures  will  and  have  attracted  fish 
to  the  surface  of  both  lake  and  stream.  Not  al- 
ways, perhaps,  but  most  often.  Yet  in  the  event 
of  the  unusual  happening,  it  is  quite  simple  enough 
to  place  a  buckshot  four  inches  from  the  lure  on  the 
leader,  to  gradually  sink  near  the  bottom  and  play 
the  lure  in  midwater. 

To  those  unable  to  capture  fish  on  lures  or  plugs 

156 


ARTIFICIAL  FROGS 

— the  latter  being  an  art  very  difficult  to  learn — 
or  forced  to  buy  live  bait,  perhaps  catch  frogs 
themselves,  my  lures  will  prove  a  real  blessing.  It 
is  amazing  what  price  some  people  will  ask  for  live 
bait,  especially  at  popular  resorts  and  hotels. 
When  you  do  get  the  frogs,  after  a  single  slap  on 
the  water  the  poor  little  beastie  will  refuse  to  move, 
swim,  or  kick;  lying  on  its  back  it  swells  out  like 
a  balloon — and  so  would  you  and  I,  if  sent  swinging 
by  our  lips  forty  feet  over  the  water. 

Setting  aside  the  undoubted  cruelty  of  empaling 
live  bait  on  the  hook  for  a  lure,  how  much  easier 
it  is  to  fish  with  a  good  lure  that  attracts  the  quarry 
— the  only  real,  logical  solution  of  the  problem. 


157 


XVIII 

THE  THREE  BEST  NATURE  LURES  FOR 
BASS 


The  crawfish,  helgramite,  and  lamper  eel  are  ex- 
clusively bass  food — pike,  pickerel,  and  trout  have 
little  or  no  use  for  them.  With  a  quantity  of  live 
baits  on  a  fishing  trip  to  lake  or  stream,  I  should  be 
very  confident  of  getting  plenty  of  bass  at  any  time, 
in  any  locality  and  under  any  weather  condition. 

Naturally  they  are  most  effective  in  river  fish- 
ing, because  they  breed  and  live  in  rivers.  On 
those  three  splendid  bass  rivers,  the  Schuylkill,  Sus- 
quehanna, and  Delaware,  the  crawfish  and  helgra- 
mite stand  first  in  the  heart  of  every  angler  who 
loves  bass  fishing ;  indeed,  those  three  baits  are  uni- 
versally used  on  those  streams  and  on  many  other 
lesser  bass  streams.  To  my  thinking,  river  fishing 
is  in  every  respect  infinitely  more  delightful  than 
lake  fishing,  whatever  method  and  baits  are  em- 
ployed. 

The  helgramite  is  most  popular  for  the  reason 


158 


CRAWFISH:    (a)   under  view;  (b)   bark  view;   <<•)  side  view;   (d)   HELGRAM1TE,  side  view 


THREE  BEST  NATURE  LURES  FOR  BASS 

that  it  is  more  easily  captured,  is  very  tough  on  the 
hook,  lasts  a  long  time  alive  in  captivity  if  kept  in 
a  cool,  dark  place,  and  is  always  lively,  anxious  to 
get  away  from  the  hook. 

The  tamper  eel  is  more  delicate  and  soon  dies. 
When  dead  it  loses  that  fresh  dark  olive  green  to 
become  a  dull  slate  color;  in  that  state  bass  do  not 
take  so  kindly  to  it.  It  is  hard  to  get ;  hard  to  keep 
fresh;  and  a  perfect  little  devil  in  snagging  your 
line.  Digging  lampers  is  far  from  a  pleasant  rec- 
reation on  a  hot  afternoon.  No  wonder  men  and 
boys  charge  an  average  price  of  five  cents  each; 
and  when  you  experience,  as  I  have,  the  annoyance 
of  seven  out  of  ten  being  taken  by  chub  (which 
usually  abide  along  with  bass )  the  price  comes  high 
to  buy  them.  Yet,  withal,  bass  love  them  very  much 
indeed. 

Crawfishing  in  brooks  is  altogether  different;  in 
fact,  I  consider  it  both  amusing  and  interesting  to 
catch  crawfish.  But  it  requires  some  experience 
to  be  a  good  crawfisher,  for  they  are  so  nimble  that 
they  appear  to  crawl  in  every  direction  at  the  same 
time ;  so  you  have  to  be  pretty  spry  and  very  patient 
to  get  a  supply. 

It  would,  however,  be  unwise  on  my  part  to  de- 
scribe how  these  baits  are  best  caught,  for  I  am 
hopeful  that  in  the  near  future  these  nature  lures 
will  be  found  such  effective  substitutes  as  to  be 
quite  as  good  as,  nay,  better  than,  the  natural  bait, 

159 


NEW  ARTIFICIAL  NATURE  LURES 

all  things  considered.  When  that  fortunate  time 
arrives,  game  fish  foods  of  all  kinds  will  increase 
more  rapidly,  being  left  at  peace  to  serve  their  pur- 
pose (as  nature  intended)  of  making  game  fishes 
more  abundant  and  of  greater  size  as  time  goes  on. 
Whenever  food  is  plentiful,  game  fish  thrive  and 
grow  big. 

I  shall  describe  the  nature  crawfish  first,  for  it  is 
equally  as  good  an  imitation  of  the  natural  bait  as 
the  frog,  if  not  an  even  better  one.  Also  it  is  uni- 
versally conceded  to  be  the  top-notch  bass  enticer. 

Every  intelligent  bass  fisherman  knows  that  bass 
always  swallow  crawfish  tail  first,  for  the  obvious 
reason  that  the  claws  fold  together  over  the  head 
as  they  slide  down,  and  not  spread  out;  otherwise 
the  foolish  bass  would  find  Mr.  Crawfish  playfully 
pinching  delicate  parts  of  his  gullet  on  the  way 
down.  For  that  very  reason  crawfish  ought  to  be 
hooked  (but  never  are)  by  inserting  the  hook  point 
up  through  the  belly,  coming  out  at  the  back,  half 
an  inch  below  the  eyes.  Such  a  method  immedi- 
ately kills  the  crawfish,  and  that  is  the  why  most 
anglers,  including  myself,  hook  crawfish  by  the  tail. 
In  this  manner,  fish  have  much  less  chance  to  gorge 
the  bait  without  getting  entangled  on  the  leader,  es- 
pecially if  the  hook  is  larger  than  the  bait. 

After  many  trials  and  a  careful  study  as  how  best 
to  place  the  hook  to  hold  fast  immediately  bass 
strike  at  the  crawfish's  tail,  I  decided  that  the  most 

160 


THREE  BEST  NATURE  LURES  FOR  BASS 

effective  way  would  be  to  have  the  hook  extend  a 
little  beyond  the  tail,  so  that  a  striking  bass  would 
swallow  barb  first:  thus  he  would  be  made  doubly 
sure  of  capture. 

Glancing  at  the  side  view,  anglers  will  notice  the 
long,  powerful  hook,  running  from  the  eye  on  top 
of  the  body  (entirely  out  of  sight  of  the  bass  below) , 
the  curve  ingeniously  hidden  by  the  crawfish's  tail 
— made  of  turkey  tail  feathers  and  long  hair  of 
wolf.  Underneath  the  tail  is  placed  a  double  hook, 
set  there  to  clinch  the  snap  of  the  bass.  This  dou- 
ble hook  is  made  invisible  by  hair  from  squirrel's 
tail.  The  body  is  a  solid  piece  of  painted  cork,  to 
which  is  securely  fastened  by  silver  wire  the  legs 
and  claws,  which  are  made  of  the  long  fibers  of 
turkey  tail  feathers — the  most  pliable  yet  strongest 
material  I  can  find  for  the  purpose.  At  the  base 
of  the  body  the  movable  tail  is  fastened  by  a  hinge. 
The  tail  is  shown  in  the  cut  at  its  highest  point, 
which  is  the  position  seen  while  in  the  water,  though 
on  a  slack  line  the  tail  drops  down,  to  move  up 
again  when  a  jerk  is  given  to  the  lure.  The  horns 
are  quills  from  a  cock's  hackle.  They  really  are  of 
no  value  to  the  lure,  except  to  make  it  more  lifelike 
to  us.  They  should  be  nipped  off  by  the  fisherman 
to  about  half  an  inch. 

It  is  only  on  very  rare  occasions  that  bass  will  rise 
from  the  bottom  where  they  lie,  to  take  a  live  craw- 
fish at,  or  near,  the  surface.     They  invariably  seize 

161 


NEW  ARTIFICIAL  NATURE  LURES 

a  live  crawfish  while  it  is  swimming  near  the  bot- 
tom, going  for  it  even  after  it  begins  to  crawl  along 
the  bed  of  the  river  to  hide  under  a  stone.  For  that 
reason,  sometimes,  the  same  condition  will  prevail 
with  the  artificial  lure,  and  to  carry  out  the  natural 
delusion  it  may  be  necessary  to  place  one  or  two 
buckshot  on  the  leader  near  the  eye  of  the  hook. 
If  the  water  is  sluggish,  one  shot  is  sufficient  to  keep 
the  lure  below,  yet  suspended  above  the  bottom. 

More  success  will  be  apparent  if  the  bait  is  jerked 
and  kept  on  the  move.  No  full  basket  is  gained  by 
the  sleepy  angler,  or  one  who  stares  around  him 
without  thinking  what  he  is  about.  Bass  are  ever- 
lastingly cute ;  they  are  neither  sleepy  nor  foolish. 

Another  way — especially  good  in  swift  water — 
is  to  fasten  a  dipsey  sinker  to  the  end  of  the  line, 
then  have  the  lure  on  a  two-foot  leader,  which  is  at- 
tached to  the  line  one  foot  above  the  sinker.  The 
force  of  the  water  stops  the  lure  from  sinking  to 
the  bottom,  but  it  floats  at  the  same  height  as  tied, 
according  to  the  action  of  the  water-flow.  The 
sinker  should  be  lifted  now  and  then,  to  give  life  to 
the  lure.  This  method  applies  also  to  the  helgra- 
mite,  the  frog,  and  various  floating  minnows,  to  be 
tried  only  if  bass  fail  to  rise  at  the  lure  when  near  the 
surface. 

The  reason  a  live  helgramite  is  so  good  to  use  as 
a  bass  lure  is  twofold.  First,  they  are  very  tough ; 
second,  they  are  very  active,  swimming  and  wrig- 

162 


THREE  BEST  NATURE  LURES  FOR  BASS 

gling  in  the  water  all  the  time  to  get  to  their  natural 
habitat,  the  bed  of  the  river.  Once  there,  they  bore 
in  the  sand  and  so  good-by.  Therefore  it  is  most 
necessary  that  the  artificial  be  played  and  kept  mov- 
ing near  the  bottom  all  the  time.  I  have  made  it  of 
cork  to  float,  hoping  to  induce  bass  to  take  it  at  the 
surface,  or  at  least  above  midwater.  Otherwise  it 
must  be  made  to  sink  with  one  or  two  small  split 
shot  fastened  on  the  leader  as  before  described. 

The  lamper  eel  has  not  been  made  to  float  be- 
cause its  peculiar  shape  and  length  of  body  would 
make  a  much  more  expensive  lure  if  made  of  cork. 
It  was  found  much  easier  to  use  a  piece  of  rubber 
tube  cut  and  bent  to  shape  and  carefully  painted 
the  life  color.  The  long,  powerful  hook  and  the 
heavy  rubber  make  it  weigh  somewhat  more — a 
little  over  a  quarter  of  an  ounce ;  but  it  is  quite  light 
enough  to  cast  with  a  long  fly-rod.  After  casting, 
it  should  be  allowed  to  sink  near  the  bottom,  then 
rapidly  reeled  in — its  bent  shape  giving  a  peculiar 
twisting  wriggle  to  imitate  the  motion  of  a  live  eel. 
It  is  quite  possible  (though  not  yet  tried)  that  the 
addition  of  a  small  half-inch  silver  flat  spoon  at- 
tached to  the  eye  of  the  hook  would  prove  an  extra 
attraction  to  the  bass.  Later  on  a  trial  will  be 
made  to  construct  a  floating  lamper  of  cork  reen- 
forced  with  silver  wire  and  wound  in  silk.  Such  a 
lure  will  be  more  expensive;  whether  it  will  be 
worth  while  remains  to  be  seen  by  a  test. 

163 


XIX 

SILVER  SHINER  AND  GOLDEN  CHUB 

New  Minnows  for  Surface  or  Deep-Water  Trolling 

After  Big  Lake  Trout,  Togue,  Mascalonge,  or 

Salmon 


From  different  sections  of  this  country — Maine, 
Nova  Scotia,  Ontario,  Lake  Keuka  in  northern 
New  York — there  have  come  requests  for  a  nature 
lure  in  the  shape  of  a  shiner  minnow  to  take  the 
place  of  natural  bait — a  lure  big  enough  for  troll- 
ing in  deep  water  after  very  large  game  fishes, 
running  up  to  fifty  pounds'  weight.  To  meet  such 
a  demand,  it  was  necessary  to  make  numerous  trials 
in  order  to  overcome  certain  difficulties,  the  great- 
est of  which  was  to  get  a  bait  equally  good  for  use 
at  the  surface  and  at  the  bottom.  I  succeeded  at 
last  in  producing  what  may  be  seen  on  this  page — 
a  silver  dace  or  shiner — and  a  golden  chub,  con- 
structed in  various  materials  round  a  single  power- 

164 


SILVER  SHINER  AND  GOLDEN  CHUB 


ful  hook  five  inches 
long;  making  the  lure 
measure  from  nose  to 
tail  tip  six  and  a  quar- 
ter inches,  and  more 
than  one  inch  through 
from  belly  to  back. 

Three  sizes  are  made 
— from  nearly  seven 
inches  down  to  three 
inches.  Each  minnow 
is  made  in  two  parts: 
the  back,  of  cork,  is 
wound  in  dark  blue 
and  light  green  raffia, 
reinforced  with  silver 
tinsel;  the  belly,  a  solid 
strip  of  hard,  heavy 
wood,  cut  to  shape,  is 
covered  over  with  real 
leaf  gold,  or  silver, 
which  is  varnished  to 
retain  its  luster.  Run- 
ning along  the  middle 
body  are  three  strands 
of  bright  blue,  green 
and  purple  wool,  well 
bound  by  strong  silver 
wire.     The  side  fins  are 


165 


NEW  ARTIFICIAL  NATURE  LURES 

cock's  hackles ;  and  the  tail  is  made  of  turkey's  tail 
feather  cut  to  shape. 

From  the  illustration,  anglers  can  judge  only  the 
form  of  this  minnow;  it  is  impossible  to  describe  its 
beauty  of  color  and  truth  to  nature.  The  parts  are 
so  constructed  and  put  together  as  to  make  the 
minnow  swim  upright,  and  glide  through  the  water 
when  trolled,  exactly  as  if  it  were  living  bait;  in 
addition,  it  has  a  buoyancy  to  float  naturally  where- 
ever  the  sinker  takes  it,  instead  of  dropping  to  lie 
lifeless  at  the  bottom. 

Every  one  of  my  baits  heretofore  has  been  made 
specially  for  "casting" — either  at  the  surface  or 
sunk — by  a  certain  method  to  attain  the  best  re- 
sults. With  this  lure  it  has  been  found  necessary 
to  conform  to  the  varied  methods  now  in  use  in 
different  localities  for  deep  water  trolling.  A 
short  description  of  these  methods,  accompanied  by 
diagrams,  may  be  useful  to  show  how  the  minnow 
is  attached  to  the  line  and  the  best  way  to  capture 
these  large  game  fishes. 

VARIOUS    METHODS    OF    TROLLING    FOR   LAKE    TROUT 

Spinning  and  trolling  are  carried  on  chiefly  in 
large  lakes  where  trout  do  not  rise  to  the  fly.  The 
lake  trout  come  to  the  surface  very  early  in  the 
spring,  immediately  after  the  ice  melts;  and  the 
angler  trolls  for  them  on  or  near  the  top  of  the 

166 


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H   _ 


SILVER  SHINER  AND  GOLDEN  CHUB 

water,  the  fish  taking  the  lure  viciously  but  rarely 
jumping  into  the  air. 

The  proper  tackle  for  surface  trolling  consists 
of  a  twelve-thread  Ashaway  cotton  line,  to  which 
is  attached  a  strong  four-ply  three-foot  gut  leader. 
On  the  leader  you  fasten  one  or  two  buckshot  six 
inches  apart.  Use  a  good  multiplying  reel,  and  an 
eight-ounce  rod,  not  longer  than  eight  feet.  If 
the  trout  run  big,  the  large  shiner  is  most  seducing 
to  them.  It  all  depends  upon  the  locality  which 
bait  is  best,  the  silver  or  the  gold;  though  I  think 
they  will  strike  viciously  at  both. 

The  deep-water  troll  requires  more  elaborate 
tackle  than  that  used  in  surface  fishing.  Attach 
to  the  end  of  the  reel  line  a  cone-shaped  sinker  from 
three  to  sixteen  ounces  in  weight,  the  size  being 
dependent  on  the  character  of  the  bottom  and  the 
style  of  fishing  preferred.  If  the  bottom  is  jagged 
in  shape,  the  line  should  be  strong  and  the  sinker 
comparatively  small.  The  same  holds  good  on 
smooth  bottoms  when  fishing  "slow  and  far  off." 
If  you  prefer  fishing  with  a  short  line,  the  sinker 
must  be  heavy.  Few  trollers  use  a  rod:  the  line 
held  in  the  hand  enables  you  to  be  more  sensitive 
to  the  slightest  touch  of  the  lead  on  the  bottom,  as 
your  boatman  rows  slowly  and  regularly  along. 
Nevertheless,  a  rod  is  much  more  valuable  in  play- 
ing the  fish. 

167 


NEW  ARTIFICIAL  NATURE  LURES 

Three  feet  above  the  sinker  attach  a  strong  single 
or  double-twisted  leader  (the  average  weight  of  the 
fish  that  are  feeding  should  determine  its  strength) 
and  two  other  leaders  above  the  first,  from  six 
to  ten  feet  apart,  the  distance  to  be  judged  by  the 
depth  at  which  the  lake  trout  are  taking  the  bait. 
Place  swivels  wherever  needed ;  and  let  your  sinker 
fine  be  three  feet  long,  and  weaker  than  the  reel 
line,  so  that  in  case  of  getting  snagged  among  the 
bottom  rocks  you  will  lose  only  the  sinker.  Above 
all  things,  have  the  boatman  row  slowly  along  and 
with  a  cadenced  movement.  The  secret  of  suc- 
cess lies  in  proper  speed,  the  right  depth,  and  the 
right  place.  As  a  rule,  fish  between  late  afternoon 
and  dark. 

TROLLING   FOR   MASCALONGE 

From  among  the  many  methods,  I  have  chosen 
the  following  as  best  suited  to  these  new  minnow 
lures.  For  some  reason  or  other,  the  mascalonge 
is  supposed  not  to  be  ready  for  live  bait  (minnows) 
until  the  fall.  In  the  clear  and  swifter  waters  of 
the  upper  Ohio  and  its  tributaries  the  mascalonge 
lies  in  the  deep  pools  during  summer  and  fall, 
where  it  is  often  taken  by  still  fishing.  But  with 
these  minnows  it  will  be  necessary  to  troll  with  a 
sinker  light  enough  to  be  trolled  slowly — similar 
to  the  methods  practised  on  lakes — at  various 
depths  according  to  time  and  season,  and  where 

168 


SILVER  SHINER  AND  GOLDEN  CHUB 

the  fish  are  known  to  be.  The  best  months  are 
September  and  October;  and  the  most  favorable 
hours  are  early  morning  and  late  afternoon,  though 
on  dark  and  cloudy  days,  with  a  brisk  wind,  the 
middle  of  the  day  is  just  as  favorable. 

For  short  casting,  row  slowly  along,  in  water 
from  five  to  ten  feet  deep,  and  cast  the  minnow  as 
near  as  possible  to  the  edge  of  weed  patches,  reel- 
ing in  again  very  slowly.  When  the  wind  and  cur- 
rent are  just  right,  it  is  a  good  plan  to  drift  while 
casting.  As  soon  as  the  fish  strikes,  and  is  well 
hooked,  the  boat  should  be  moved  to  deeper,  more 
open  water  by  a  skilled  boatman;  and  care  should 
be  taken  that  the  line  is  kept  taut,  in  order  to  les- 
sen the  chances  of  the  fish's  taking  to  the  weeds. 

The  minnow  may  be  trolled  along  the  edges  of 
the  channel,  just  outside  the  weed  patches,  from  a 
moving  boat,  with  a  line  of  from  thirty  to  fifty 
yards. 

The  tackle  may  be  the  same  as  that  used  for 
lake  trout.  Many  anglers  troll  with  hand  lines  of 
heavy,  braided  linen;  but  the  use  of  a  rod  is  of 
much  greater  service  in  playing  large  fish,  should 
you  succeed  in  getting  them.  A  fish  of  such  ex- 
cellent game  qualities  deserves  treatment  of  a  bet- 
ter kind. 

The  range  of  these  three  splendid  game  fishes 
is  so  wide  as  to  make  it  impossible  to  give  even  a 
short  list  of  places.     Lake  trout,  togue,  and  salmon 

169 


NEW  ARTIFICIAL  NATURE  LURES 

trout  may  be  caught  in  any  of  the  thousands  of 
big  lakes  through  the  Northwestern  Hemisphere. 
The  Pacific  salmon  does  not  take  the  fly;  but  mag- 
nificent fishing  may  be  had  in  the  salt  water  of 
Monterey,  Santa  Cruz,  and  Carmel  Bays,  where 
the  method  is  to  troll  in  thirty  feet  of  water  with 
smelt  bait,  of  which  this  minnow  is  an  excellent 
imitation.  Fish  of  fifty  pounds'  weight  are  fre- 
quently caught;  and  their  game  qualities  are  equal 
to  the  salmon  of  Eastern  waters.  The  mascalonge 
is  well  distributed  throughout  the  Middle  West  and 
Canada,  and  is  a  worthy  brother  to  the  salmon. 

If  anglers  will  give  these  nature  lures  only  half 
the  effort  they  expend  on  live  baits,  they  will  en- 
joy sport  enough  to  please  the  most  fastidious.  A 
small  amount  of  good  judgment  as  to  where  to  get 
fish,  how  to  get  them,  when  to  get  them,  and  with 
what  to  get  them,  is  certain  to  succeed.  These 
lures  will  be  found  even  better  than  live  bait — 
certainly  better  than  artificial  lures  heretofore 
tried. 

There  is  no  need  for  this  big  minnow  to  be 
made  to  revolve  or  spin.  It  glides  along,  or  can 
be  made  to  dart  suddenly,  just  as  the  living  shiner 
or  smelt  would  do  in  its  natural  habitat. 

To  repeat  what  has  been  stated  before:  "Make 
a  lifeless  object  a  living  thing:  make  the  bait  act 
alive  by  the  ingenious  manipulation  of  your  line." 
If  you  are  familiar  with  deep-water  fishing,  you 

170 


SILVER  SHINER  AND  GOLDEN  CHUB 

will  know  of  many  better  dodges  used  when  live- 
bait  fishing  that  will  serve  the  same  ends  with  these 
lures.  In  fact,  imagine  you  are  using  a  live  bait; 
force  the  fish  by  your  ingenuity  to  think  the  same ; 
then  it  will  go  for  it  quickly  enough. 

I  do  not  believe  a  spoon  attachment  of  any  size 
or  make  will  add  to  this  minnow's  usefulness; 
though  I  know  many  anglers  place  spoons  along 
with  their  live  bait — which,  by  the  way,  is  more 
often  dead,  and  for  that  reason  they  have  to  make 
it  spin.  But  this  minnow  swims  along  as  if  alive, 
and  the  brilliant  sheen  of  the  gold  and  silver  bellies 
is  sufficiently  attractive. 

Finally,  in  placing  this  giant  minnow  before 
brothers  of  the  craft,  I  claim  it  to  be  a  kindly, 
sportsmanlike  lure,  in  place  of  what  one  of  my 
correspondents  terms  "those  murderous  grappling 
irons  offered  to  the  multitude,  which  should  be  rele- 
gated to  the  use  of  municipal  morgues." 

No  one  living  can  feel  more  grief  than  I  at  the 
loss  of  a  very  large  fish.  One  season  I  played  a 
four-pound  brown  trout  for  half  an  hour.  He  was 
wilder  than  a  captive  wolf,  with  his  leaps  and 
lunges;  and  I  fairly  screamed  with  pain  to  see  my 
leader  snap  like  a  bowstring  on  his  last  leap  for 
freedom.  Two  days  later  I  got  him  safe  ashore, 
slowly  and  carefully  working,  till  I  was  thoroughly 
exhausted  when  I  slid  on  to  the  sandy  beach. 
While  making  an  examination  of  the  contents  of 

171 


NEW  ARTIFICIAL  NATURE  LURES 

this  trout's  stomach,  I  found  nine  hooks  in  various 
parts  of  its  body,  only  two  of  which  had  been  used 
with  artificial  flies. 


172 


fn^gv.  rr^A 


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XX 


THE  RIGHT  IMPLEMENTS  AND  METHODS 


Their  Importance  for  Sure  Success 

Among  the  numerous  kindly  letters  received 
from  anglers  who  have  succeeded  in  catching  fish 
with  nature  lures  there  are  several  from  anglers 
who  failed,  and  made  inquiries  as  to  why  they  did. 
There  may  be  others  having  similar  experience,  and 
it  is  to  these — if  there  be  any — that  I  would  like  to 
point  out  a  way  to  sure  success.  As  all  of  my 
nature  lures  are  made  to  float,  they  must  of  neces- 
sity be  constructed  of  lightweight  materials;  and 
this  makes  it  imperative  that  certain  methods  be 
strictly  complied  with  for  general  success. 

I  am  aware  that  most  anglers  act  upon  the 
assumption  that  they  are  skilful  enough,  when  they 
get  a  lure,  to  know  how  to  use  it  without  instruc- 
tion from  anybody.  But  in  the  case  of  an  entirely 
new  idea — in  fact,  a  complete  revolution  of  existing 
methods — it  seems  to  me  advisable  to  take  some 

173 


NEW  ARTIFICIAL  NATURE  LURES 

notice  of  what  the  inventor  has  to  say  concerning 
the  lures. 

I  must  here  call  attention  to  the  fact  that  the 
greater  effectiveness  of  live  bait  (especially  with 
bass)  is  in  its  continuous  movement  in  the  water. 
True,  we  see  at  times  a  minnow,  frog,  or  crab  lying 
perfectly  motionless;  but  they  dart  off  with  con- 
siderable activity  the  moment  they  perceive  a  bass 
within  their  vision — a  matter  of  self-preservation. 

The  same  thing  applies  to  imitation  nature  baits 
or  lures — they  must  be  made  to  act  alive  by  the  in- 
genious manipulation  of  the  angler's  rod- tip.  This 
essential  part  of  the  method  soon  becomes  mechan- 
ical, and  the  more  you  are  expert  in  this  practise, 
the  sooner  it  takes  the  form  of  a  greater  delight  in 
the  game:  viz.,  to  make  a  lifeless  object  a  living 
thing.  No  one  can  question  that  these  lures  are 
accurate  imitations  in  form  and  color  of  live  baits ; 
and  it  rests  with  the  angler  to  do  his  part  in  giving 
life  movement  to  them.  Every  angler,  if  he  tries 
hard  enough,  can  make  fish  believe  they  take  live 
bait. 

It  is  astonishing  how  much  can  be  done  with  a 
trout  rod-tip  in  the  manipulation  of  a  lure  or  fly  in 
imitating  true  to  life  the  action  of  fish  food.  This 
is  seen  to  perfection  in  dry-fishing — so  far,  the 
most  perfectly  artistic  method  in  all  fishing;  and 
the  very  essence  of  it  all  is  the  perfection  of  the  rod- 

174 


RIGHT  IMPLEMENTS  AND  METHODS 

tip  play.     This  same  thing  I  expect  and  truly  hope 
anglers  will  attain  with  these  nature  lures. 

Now,  the  first  important  thing  is  to  use  the  right 
implements.  You  should  have  a  powerful  trout 
rod  at  least  nine  feet  long  (still  longer  is  better), 
with  a  stiff  yet  pliable  tip,  at  the  end  of  which 
should  be  an  agate  guide  and  another  one  near  the 
handle,  a  distance  of  nine  inches  from  the  handle; 
between  these  two  the  rest  should  be  snake  guides. 
You  should  have  a  good,  yet  soft,  oiled-silk  line  that 
will  slide  through  the  guides  as  easily  as  if  greased. 
I  now  use  an  imported  tapered  dry  fly  trout  line, 
because  I  find  it  the  best  and  I  can,  if  desired,  put 
on  a  fly  without  vexatious  delay  in  changing  reel 
and  line.  A  two-dollar  single-click  reel  will  suf- 
fice. 

The  most  important  part  of  all  is  that  you  use 
with  each  and  every  lure  a  single  bass  gut  leader 
from  three  to  six  feet  long,  neatly  tied,  without 
loop,  through  the  eye  of  the  hook  at  one  end,  the 
other  end  attached  to  the  line  with  a  loop. 

One  angler  wrote  that  his  frog  persisted  in  float- 
ing on  its  back.  Yet  every  frog  is  made  the  same, 
of  material  that  so  balances  as  to  be  impossible  of 
itself  to  turn  over  when  dropped  into  the  water. 
I  found  out  that  the  angler  (an  expert)  had  used 
a  short  double  gut  leader,  only  six  inches  long,  which 
turned  the  frog  every  time  he  cast.     Another  used 

175 


NEW  ARTIFICIAL  NATURE  LURES 

no  gut  leader,  but  attached  the  light  dragon-fly  to 
a  heavy,  stiff  oiled  line  which  pulled  the  fly  under 
the  surface.  Still  another  sat  watching  two  hours 
with  the  rod  resting  on  the  boat,  waiting  for  bass 
to  grab  the  lure  lying  still  at  the  surface.  But  he 
did  get  a  strike  when  reeling  in.  These  are  not 
stupid,  only  careless,  mistakes,  due  to  not  having 
read  the  instructions  that  go  with  each  lure. 

Every  method,  every  bait,  requires  some  particu- 
lar kind  of  practise  to  attain  success.  The  expert 
will  get  ten  times  more  strikes  with  live  bait  than 
will  the  amateur  who  does  not  fish  by  method  or 
rule.  Casting  the  plug  (Western  style)  is  a  case 
in  point.  I  spent  much  time  learning  how  to  drop 
a  plug  properly,  then  to  retrieve  the  line  without 
snap  or  other  troubles. 

These  nature  lures  are  not  made  nor  intended  for 
trolling — except  the  larger  sized  minnows.  But 
the  frog,  crawfish,  grasshopper,  helgramite,  are  all 
made  suitable  to  cast  the  short  distance  of  thirty 
feet,  more  or  less. 

If  I  have  not  in  this  book  convinced  anglers  that 
nature  lures  (which  exactly  imitate  the  color,  form, 
and  life  movements  of  natural  baits)  are  equally 
advantageous  to  thoughtful  anglers,  to  game  fishes, 
and  to  the  various  creatures  they  feed  on,  it  is  not 
from  lack  of  effort  and  years  of  patient  study  on 
my  part.     But  I  am  confident  that  in  time,  with  a 

176 


RIGHT  IMPLEMENTS  AND  METHODS 

little  practise,  nature  lures  will  take  their  place  in 
advance  of,  and  succeed  far  better  than,  anything 
else,  either  natural  or  artificial.  At  least  I  myself 
shall  make  them  do  so,  if  others  do  not.  It  is  only 
a  matter  of  persistent  effort  in  the  right  direction — 
that  is  to  make  the  artificial  act  as  the  natural  bait 
does.  It  seems  to  me  such  effort  would  furnish  ad- 
ditional pleasure  in  the  game  of  angling — to  play 
artificial  lures  so  skilfully  as  to  deceive  fish  into  be- 
lieving them  to  be  living  things. 

Moreover,  the  bass,  trout,  and  pike  angler, 
equipped  with  a  complete  set  of  nature  lures,  should 
be  able  to  catch  the  bigger  fish — at  less  trouble  and 
expense — and  to  gain  infinitely  more  sport,  with 
keener  delight,  than  he  can  obtain  with  any  other 
lures,  natural  or  artificial. 


THE  END 


177 


GENERAL  LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA— BERKELEY 


RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 


This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or  on  the 

date  to  which  renewed. 

Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 


I9Ju!'60VD 
RfiC'D  U.D 

SF         960 


3Ap< 
REC'D  LD 

MAR  2  9 1962 


RECTO  tO 


after 


'7341AM  %  4 


LD  21-100ro-l,'54(1887sl6)476 


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